Selected physical and mechanical properties of giant timber bamboo grown in South Carolina

Physical and mechanical properties of giant timber bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides) grown in South Carolina were investigated. The bamboo culms had an average specific gravity (SG) of 0.48 in the green condition and the bamboo splits had SG values of 0.40 and 0.52 in the green and air-dry conditions, respectively. The average green moisture content was 171 percent for the splits and 138 percent for the culms. The average percent shrinkages of splits from green to air-dry were 0.02, 9.25, and 18.21 percent in longitudinal, tangential, and radial directions, respectively. Effects of selected variables such as moisture condition (green or air-dry), height location on bamboo culm (top, middle, or bottom), and presence of node on compressive and tensile strengths were analyzed (...)