VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

BELAGAVI

A
Project Phase-1
On

“Bamboo As A Reinforced Concrete ”

Submitted in the partial fulfillment of the requirement of VII Semester
Bachelor of Civil Engineering

By

NAME USN
AMIL SHRESTHA 1SZ18CV001
CHAITRA M 1SZ18CV002
PRATHIKSHA CK 1SZ18CV004
RAMESH KUMAR DAS 1SZ18CV006

Under the guidance of

Mr. Mohammed ShakeebUlla khan
Assistance Professor , Department of Civil

2021-222
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
SAMPOORNA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH
(Affiliated to VTU, Belagavi, Approved by AICTE, New Delhi)
Belkere, Channaptana, Ramanagra, Bangalore-562160
SAMPOORNA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
BELEKERE, CHANNAPATNA-562160

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project work entitled Bamboo As A Reinforced

Concrete , carried out by 7th SEM STUDENTS BATCH. A bonafide

students of seven semester in partial fulfillment for the award

Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering of the Visvesvaraya
Technological University, Belagavi during the year [Link] is
certified that all corrections/suggestions indicated for internal
assessment have been incorporated in the report. The project has been
certified as it satisfies the academic requirement in respect of project
work.

Mr. Mohammed ShakeebUlla khan Mrs. Anusha G K

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor and H.O.D

Dr. Byre Gowda H

Principal
CONTENTS:

 ABSTRACT……………………………………………
 INTRODUCTION……………………………………..1 - 3
 PROBLEM STATEMENT………………………… 4
 LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………… 5-7
 METHODOLOGY…………………………………….8-13
 POSSIBLE OUTCOMES…………………………….. 14
 REFERENCES. ………………………………… 15
ABSTRACT:

The construction principles involved in the designing of bamboo

reinforced members and structures has been discussed in this document, the
use of bamboo in the place of steel as a whole as well as with steel is shown
to ensure the reduction in weight, economic advantages with its strength
compromised to a slight and safe level. Various researches and study results
will be used for the deduction of a method most suitable for the replacement
of bamboo as reinforcing material in the right amount and the right proportion
and the best possible placement in place of the steel and or with steel.

Bamboo is also environment friendly as we know as it grows naturally without

any chemical process unlike the case of steel bars which causes a huge amount
of emissions of CO during their production, In case of bamboo the rapid
growth plant growth requires the grass to absorb large quantities of CO2
meaning that its cultivation as a building material would help reduce the rate
of climate change these factor alone are incentive for investment in developing
bamboo as a reinforcement. Bamboo strips were prepared from old age
bamboo. Take a bamboo specimen from a full grown bamboo of pronounced
brown color. The age of bamboo to be at least 3 years. Make sure that the
bamboo is properly seasoned and shows a brown colour, bamboo showing
green color should be avoided. The bamboo specimen was cut 160 mm long
and had a thickness of 10mm with the outer radius of 560 mm and inner radius
of 540 mm.

The tests that are to be carried out apart from the research paper data have to
be done on machines and the results will then be tallied with the research paper
data and will be in the designing of columns . Tension test till failure will be
carried out on a CT machine, the whole graph of its tensile strength can be
obtained and then the values can be used for further considerations. Ultimate
compressive strength test is carried out on a CTM machine and the results
were then used for putting in the design of column.
 CHAPTER – 1

INTRODUCTION:
The world timber and can be successfully utilized for structural and non-
structural applications in construction. Bamboo is one of the oldest traditional
building materials used by mankind. The bamboo culm, or stem, has been
made into an extended diversity of products ranging from domestic household
products to industrial applications. Bamboo is quite common for bridges,
scaffolding and housing. but it is usually used as a temporary exterior
structural material. In many overly populated regions of the tropics, certain
bamboos supply the one suitable material that is sufficiently cheap and
plentiful to meet the extensive need tor economical housing with the
advancement of science and technology and the tight supply of timber, new
methods are needed for the processing of bamboo to make it more durable and
more usable in terms of building materials. Studies have been carried out on
the basic properties and on processing of bamboo into various kinds of
composite products. Bamboo has several unique advantages like ability to
grow fast with a high yield and also it matures quickly. Additionally bamboo
can be grown abundantly and that too at a lower cost which makes it more
economical.
Strength Properties of Bamboo
⁃ Specific gravity - 0.575 to 0.655
⁃ Average weight - 0.625kg/cm2
⁃ Modulus of rupture - 610 to 1600kg/ cm2
⁃ Modulus of Elasticity - 1.5 to 2.0 x105kg/ cm2
⁃ Ultimate compressive stress- 794 to 864kg/ cm2

⁃ Safe working stress in compression - 105kg/ cm2

⁃ Safe working stress in tension - 160 to 350 kg/ cm2
⁃ Safe working stress in shear- 115 to 180 kg/ cm2
1|Page
 ⁃ Bond stress - 5.6kg/ cm2.
Construction Principles
In general, techniques used in conventional reinforced concrete construction
need not he changed when bamboo is to be used for reinforcement.
Bamboo as Construction Material
Through research it has been found that some species of bamboo have ultimate
tensile strength same as that of mild steel at yield point. Experimentally it has
been found that the ultimate tensile strength of some species of bamboo is
comparable to that of mild steel and it varies from 140N/mm2- 280N/mm2.
Bamboo is a versatile material because of its high strength-to-weight ratio,
easy workability and availability. Bamboo needs to be chemically treated due
to their low natural durability. It can be used as Bamboo Trusses, Bamboo
Roofs Skeleton, Bamboo walling/ceiling, Bamboo Doors and Windows,
Bamboo Flooring, Reed Boards, Scaffolding.
Applications of Bamboo
Bamboo has been and is being used in a wide variety of applications such as
recreation, defense, housing and construction. In regards to recreation bamboo
has been used to construct a variety of musical instruments. In addition to the
fact that bamboo can be used in the arts, it can also be eaten. The market for
bamboo shoots has grown rapidly in the last years. In fact Taiwan exports $50
million dollars worth of shoots that are eaten worldwide. One of the major
applications of bamboo is for construction and housing. It is estimated that
one billion people live in bamboo houses. It can also be used to make furniture.
Over a period of nine year the exports of bamboo furniture almost doubled in
Philippines. In India and China bamboo is used in construction of temporary
suspension bridges. In Tokyo and Hong Kong it is used as scaffolding in high
rise buildings. There is a company that currently manufactures surfboards out
of bamboo. Bamboo can also be used in the arts. It can be fashioned into many
shapes leading to artistic freedom as bamboo has been crafted into furniture,

2|Page
decorative items such as home decoration, dishware, dolls, toys, jewelry and
more.

Comparison of Bamboo and Steel

One of the properties that would make bamboo a good substitute to steel in
reinforced concrete is its strength. The strength of bamboo is greater than most
timber products which are advantageous, but it is approximately half the
tensile strength of steel. Bamboo is easily accessible as it grows in almost
every tropical and subtropical region, this lowers the cost of construction and
increases the strength of the buildings that would otherwise be unreinforced.
One major problem with bamboo is that attracts living organism such as fungi
and insects. Bamboo is more prone to insects than other trees and grasses
because it has a high content of nutrients. In order to combat this problem, it
becomes necessary to treat bamboo to protect it from the environment. Steel
does not have this problem but it also needs to be coated in order to protect it
from rusting. Bamboo is very light in weight compared to steel. Due to its low
modulus of elasticity, bamboo can crack and deflect more than steel
reinforcement under the same conditions. These aspects put bamboo on the
list of viable construction materials. These properties, when combined,
suggest that bamboo will make a fine addition to the current selection of
materials, but it is necessary that people in general be made more familiar with
its strengths and weaknesses.

3|Page
 CHAPTER- 2

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

The project is designed to replace of steel by bamboo reinforcement such
that they can minimize their cost.

WHY IS THE PARTICULAR TOPIC CHOSEN ?

Bamboo is a versatile material because of its high strength to weight ratio,
easy workability and availability. The Analysis of the replacement of steel
with bamboo as reinforcement shows that reinforcement with bamboo is quite
cheaper than that of steel reinforcement. The positive attributes of Bamboo
supporting its environment-friendly nature.

OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF THE PROJECT:

1. Many new techniques are being developed which may make bamboo
the best constructional material in future. It has wide scope in Low Cost
Constructions.
2. To determine the water absorption capacity of bamboo.
3. To determine the flexural strength of singly, doubly and column
reinforced concrete beam.
4. To compare the tension behavior of steel and bamboo.
5. New material for reinforcement can be discovered.
6. To study the above using light weight aggregate.
7. Low cost construction.

4|Page
 CHAPTER-3

LITERATURE REVIEW:
General Study:
Building with bamboo looks back on an ancient tradition in the region in which
plant grows in abundance, such as South America & Africa. Bamboo is one
of the oldest construction materials . There has been a lot of construction
activity in the developing world, especially India & China, for the last one and
a half decade. Although not directly visible construction industry is one of the
most polluting industries in the world. Production of both concrete and steel
causes substantial deterioration of environment. “BAMBOO AS GREEN
ALTERNATIVE TO CONCRETE AND STEEL FOR MODERN
STRUCTURES" BY- Suresh Bhalla
(International Organization of Environmental Research, Goa, 18-20 Dec.
2008). Despite of the long tradition of building with the bamboo, the material
is not used frequently in modern building construction. Bamboo can be a
perfect alternative for steel in the present and the future, as it possesses all the
required mechanical properties, and can perfectly replace steel, depending on
the situation and the application.

Analytical Studies and Research:

Tjerk Reijenga "Role of bamboo in Green Building design". In this project we

are comparing steel reinforcement with bamboo reinforcement, its structural
cost and techniques of replacement of steel with bamboo while reinforcing.
The United States Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory (1966) reported a study
providing a set of instructions on how to properly construct a variety of
structures using Bamboo. It was recommended in the report that the amount

5|Page
of Bamboo reinforcement in concrete be 3 to 4% of the concrete's cross-
sectional area as the optimum amount. Jansen (2000) conducted her study on
building with Bamboo. It gives calculations to show to show why it's
economically competitive, mechanical properties, its many uses, its natural
durability, and the preservation of the Bamboo. The US Naval Corps is the
leading institute in research for bamboo reinforcement techniques and it has
developed some tables and graphs.

James kariuki [Link] (2014) (1)were conducted an experimental analysis on

flexural strength oflaminated bamboo beams. Yushaniya alphina is a type of
species in bamboo. The bamboo strips are laminated with the help of high
strength Polyvinyl Acetate Adhesive. The bamboo is cutted and splitted by
using pressing and splitting machine. The outer silky and soft layer is removed
before being boiled and dried. It is then boiled in a solution containing
hydrogen peroxide for 3 hours and preserved using preservative agent boric
acid and borax oxide which are effective against termites and fungi. Finally,
the water is evaporated and salts are settled in the bamboos which are dried in
air for 3 months until 12% of moisture content is achieved. The six laminated
bamboo beams were compared with three beams of cypress timber. Bamboo
laminated beam having better load carrying capacity than cypress beam.

Farhana Naznin [Link] (2015) investigated a study on bamboo reinforced

concrete beams. Bambusa tulda was made into splints of 16mm and 20mm
which are then treated CopperChrome Boron and finally they are surface
dried. Two types of bamboo splints are prepared plain and tor. The tor splints
alone are coated with bitumen and sand is sprinkled to increase bond strength.
Steel is used as a stirrup material for boxing of bamboo reinforced concrete
which finally casted. The concrete mix and water cement ratio of required
proportion is adopted Bamboo splints are then tested for flexure, tension and
moisture content. Based on results obtained, we can attain better flexural
6|Page
performance by increasing the number of reinforcement , diameter of the bar
and shear links to the bamboo reinforced beams. The deflection in the mid
span is reduced and also flexural strength is increased.

V. Ashwin [Link] (2015) conducted an experimental investigation on

deformations of bamboo reinforced concrete columns. The conventional steel
column is prepared as per specification. The bamboo reinforced column is
prepared by cutting the splints of bamboo culms as per specification. A thin
coating of epoxy resin which is a water proofing chemical is applied on the
splints to achieve good bonding. The compression and axial load tests are
conducted on conventional steel column and the bamboo reinforced column
and the results are compared. Based on the results obtained, bamboo
reinforced column will not increase the strength but it enhances the ductility
of the section. It is suitable for low rise building and not suitable for water
retaining structures because it shows larger deflection and increase in moisture
content.

7|Page
 CHAPTER-4

METHODOLOGY:
Concrete Mix Proportions
The concrete mix design for M30 grade is carried out based on the
specification of IS 10262. The cement content normally used is OPC 43 and
maximum water cement ratio 1:0.45 . The fineness modulus of fine aggregate
ranges is 2.73 and the size of the coarse aggregate has been limited to 20mm.
The concrete mix proportion ratio [Link].2 .

The test on concrete mix proportion are:

Cement:
Initial and final setting time of cement test
Initial setting time give an idea about how fast cement can start losing its
plasticity and the final setting time of cement gives an idea about how much
time cement takes to lose its full plasticity and gain strength to resist pressure.
Initial setting time of cement: It is the elapsed between the moments that the
water is added to the cement, to the time that the paste starts losing its
plasticity.
Final setting time of cement: t is the elapsed between the moments that the
water is added to the cement, to the time that the paste starts losing its plasticity
completely and has attained sufficient firmness to resist certain definite
pressure.

Apparatus
Vicat’s apparatus with mould and non-porous plate, Initial setting time 1 sq.
mm Needle, Final setting time 1 sq. mm Needle with enlarged base, Balance,
Measuring cylinder, Stopwatch, Thermometer.

8|Page
Samples
Cement, Potable water.

Procedure
Weigh about 300gm. of neat cement Time will be recorded with stopwatch
from the time the water is added. Standard needle will be placed on the test
block and time will be observed when the needle fails to pierce the block
beyond 5.0 +/- 0.5 mm (measured from the bottom of the mould) The time
difference between the starting time when water is added to cement to the time
mentioned in (v) above will be noted as initial setting time. The needle with
annular attachment will be used for determining final setting time. The cement
shall be considered as finally set when upon applying the needle gently to the
surface of the block, the needle makes an impression thereon, while the
attachment fails to do so.
Fine aggregate/Sand:
Fine aggregate which is known as Sand is a naturally occurring granular
material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles. It is defined
by size, being finer than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a
textural class of soil or soil type; i.e. a soil containing more than 85% sand-
sized particles (by mass).
Coarse Aggregate :
Aggregates are the most mined materials in the world. Aggregates are
component of composite materials such as concrete and asphalt concrete; the
aggregate serves as reinforcement to add strength to the overall composite
[Link]. Property FA CA material.
1 Specific Gravity 2.64 2.70

2 Fineness 3.24 7.40

Modulus

9|Page
Water:
Water is an important ingredient of concrete as it actively
participates in the chemical reaction with cement. Since it helps
to form the strength giving cement gel, the quantity and quality
of water is required to be looked into very carefully.
Square Bamboo Reinforced Column Design:
Determine the cross section and bamboo reinforcement of a column required
to carry an axial load of 70,000 lb. Ultimate compression strength of the
concrete,f'c,is2500psi.
1. For an unreinforced rectangular column the safe axial load, P, is given by:
P=0.8Ag (0.225f'c)
where Ag is the cross-sectional area of the concrete column.
2. The column should have a cross-sectional area of:

3. If a square column is chosen, it will have face dimensions of

b = (155.5)1/2 = 12.47 in., say 12.5 in.
[Link] amount of vertical reinforcement should be 4 percent of the concrete
area and can be obtained . Try 3/4-inch-thick splints. The number required is
8.8 for an area of (12.5)(12.5) = 156 sq in. However, it provides only 3-percent
reinforcement; thus 8.8 should be multiplied by (4/3) to get 11.7. Thus, 12
splints should be used; these should be spaced evenly around the perimeter
with 1-1/2 in of cover. Lateral ties should be arranged to provide each vertical
splint with a 90-degree corner (or smaller).
[Link] reinforcement size should be 2 percent of the total area of the vertical
bars confined by it. Each tie confines four vertical bars or an area of

10 | P a g e
4(3/4)(3/4) = 2.252 sq in. The cross-sectional area of the ties should be at least
2 percent of this or 0.02(2.252) = 0.045 sq in. Try 1/4-inch by 1/4-inch splints.
The cross-sectional area is (1/4)(1/4) = 0.063 sq in. and therefore is adequate.
The least dimension of the column is 12.5 in., and 16 times the thickness of
the vertical reinforcement is 16(3/4) = 12.0 in.; therefore, spacing of the lateral
ties is restricted to a maximum of 12 in.

Selection And Preparation Of Bamboo

The following factors should be considered in the selection of bamboo culms
(whole plants) for use as reinforcement in concrete structures:
⁃ Use only bamboo showing a pronounced brown colour. This will insure
the plant is at least three years old.
- Select the longest large diameter culms available.
- Do not use whole culms of green, unseasoned bamboo.
⁃ Avoid bamboo cut in spring or early summer. These culms are generally
weaker due to increased fibre moisture content.

Preparation:
Sizing
Splints are generally more desirable than whole culms as reinforcement.
Larger culms should be split into splints approximately 3/4 inch wide. Whole
culms less than 3/4 inch in diameter can be used without splitting. Splitting
the bamboo can he done by separating the base with a sharp knife and then
pulling a dulled blade through the stem. The dull blade will force the stem to
split open; this is more desirable than cutting the bamboo since splitting will
result in continuous fibres and a nearly straight section

11 | P a g e
Seasoning
When possible, the bamboo should be cut and allowed to dry and season for
three to four weeks before using. The culms must be supported at regular
spacing's to reduce warping.
Waterproof Coatings
When seasoned bamboo, either split or whole is used as reinforcement; it
should receive a waterproof coating to reduce swelling when in contact with
concrete. Without some type of coating, bamboo will swell before the concrete
has developed sufficient strength to prevent cracking and the member may be
damaged, especially if more than 4 percent bamboo is used.

THE FOLLOWING TEST WILL BE CONDUCTED ON

BAMBOO:
Compression Test
Well-seasoned bamboo sticks should be used for the preparation of test
specimen. The test specimen was made in the shape of cylinder and each
specimen was prepared to have 10cm length with varying diameter. In a whole
30 samples were prepared for conducting the tests.

Specimens for Compressive Test

Tensile Test
Conventional construction material steel was replaced by the bamboo and
hence the tests for the steels should have to done for the bamboo also. Tensile
test is normally conducted for the steel to determine its tensile strength and it

12 | P a g e
was done for the bamboo. This was conducted by dividing the bamboo into
two equal pieces and each half is further divided into three pieces and the
diameter was calculated and the average was taken into consideration.

Specimens for Tensile Test

13 | P a g e
 CHAPTER-5

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES :

➢ In this project we have advanced bamboo reinforcement technique

instead of traditional steel reinforcement.
➢ This is a good idea for low cost economical structure.
➢ Bamboo reinforcement technique is used for both main and distribution
reinforcement as it was same earlier done for steel reinforcement.
➢ It is three times cheaper then steel reinforcement technique.
➢ It is clear from results that this bamboo reinforcement technique is
absolutely cheaper then steel reinforcement technique especially for
single story structure.
➢ It holds very good tension and compressive strength.
➢ The flexural strength of the beam having bamboo reinforcement shows
greater strength which helps to improve the usages of bamboo.

14 | P a g e
 REFERENCES:

1. Khosrow Ghawami, “Bamboo as Reinforcement in Structural Concrete

Elements Bamboo”, Cement and concrete composites 27 (2005) 637-649.
2. Masakazu Terai and Koichi Minami, “Fracture Behavior and Mechanical
Properties of Bamboo Reinforced Concrete”, Procedia Engineering 10 (2011)
2967-2972.
3. Adom –Asamoah Mark and Afrifa Owusu Russell, “Comparative study of
Bamboo reincforced concrete beams using different stirrup materials for rural
construction”, International Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering,
Volume 2 2011.
4. Jigar K. Sevalia and Nirav B. Siddhpura, “Study on Bamboo as reinforcement
in cement concrete”, International journal of research and application (IJERA)
volume 3, 2013.
5. Ghavami, K., “Ultimate Load Behaviour of Bamboo-Reinforced Lightweight
Concrete Beams”, Cement & Concrete Composites 17 (1995) 281-288, 10
May 1995.

15 | P a g e