Fracture Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Reinforced Concrete Members

Abstract Recently, in the attention in response to global warming issues and sustainable society, the manufacturing using natural materials has become actively. Bamboo, low cost, fast growing, and broad distribution of growth, is expected to contribute significantly to earthquake-resistant construction and seismic retrofit technology for developing countries. This report has been prepared to assist the seismic retrofit of the masonry structures in the design and construction of bamboo reinforced concrete. A study of the feasibility of using bamboo and non-steel as the reinforcing material in concrete members was conducted in our laboratory. Six beam specimens were constructed and a total of 11 beam tests were performed to examine the flexural cracking and the shear cracking strength. Additionally, monotonic compression tests were carried out on 16 column specimens, which has 200 mm in diameter and 500 mm in height with confining steel bars or PP-band spirals, in order to study fracture behavior and mechanical property of bamboo confined concrete.