Bamboo As A Building Material

ABSTRACT

Bamboo is a renewable and versatile resource, characterized by high strength and low weight, and is easily worked using simple tools. It is widely recognized as one of the most important non-timber forest resources due to the high socio-economic benefits from bamboo based products. Bamboo is the world’s fastest growing woody plant. Bamboo grows three times faster than most other species.

Housing is one of the priority items and sensing the current shortage of the dwelling units, the present administrative leaders around the world find tough to hit upon a solution for. Apart from the other substances already in practice, bamboo appears to be the most promising material. Bamboo building construction is characterized by a structural frame approach similar to that applied in traditional timber frame design and construction. In this case, the floor, the wall, the roof elements are all interconnected and often one dependent on the other for overall stability. The use of bamboo for foundation is rather restricted. This is mainly due to the fact that like timber when in contact with damp ground, they deteriorate and decay very quickly unless treated with some very effective preservatives. The most extensive use of bamboo in construction is for the walls and partitions. The major elements, the posts and beams, generally constitute part or structural framework. The roof offers protection against extremes of weather including rain, sun and wind, and to provide shelter, clear and usable space beneath the canopy.

Above all it must be strong enough to resist the considerable forces generated by wind and roof coverings. In this respect, bamboo is ideal as a roofing material-it is strong, resilient and light weighted. Bamboo will continue to play an important part in the development of enterprises and the transformation of rural environments.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

DEFINITION OF TERMS

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

• INTRODUCTION
• BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
• AIM OF THE PROJECT
• GENERAL USES OF BAMBOO
• ADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO
• DISADVANTAGES/PROBLEM OF BAMBOO
• ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO
• PROJECT APPLICATION
• PROJECT MOTIVATION

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0      LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1      OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY

2.2     HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF BAMBOO PLANTS

2.3     CULTIVATION OF BAMBOO

2.4      ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT OF BAMBOO

2.5      ORIGIN OF BAMBOO

2.6         BAMBOO CARE

2.7     SPECIES OF BAMBOO

2.8        REGIONS OF GROWTH

CHAPTER THREE

DESIGN METHODOLOGY

3.0      METHODOLOGY

3.1      BAMBOO AS A BUILDING MATERIAL

3.1.1 Foundations with Bamboo as a Building Material

3.1.2 Flooring with Bamboo as a Building Material

3.1.3 Walls Construction with Bamboo as a Building Material

3.1.4 Roofing with Bamboo as a Building Material

3.1.5 Scaffolding with Bamboo as a Building Material

3.2      CLIMATE AND BAMBOO GROWTH

3.3      PREPARING BAMBOO AS THE BUILDING MATERIAL

3.4      STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO

3.5      VARIOUS STRUCTURAL SHAPES OF BAMBOO AS A BUILDING MATERIAL

3.6      METHODS OF WORKING ON BAMBOO

3.7      PRESERVATION OF BAMBOO

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1            PROCESSING OF BAMBOO AND TREATMENT OF BAMBOO

4.2          PRESERVATION AND TREATMENT

4.3          TYPES OF PRESERVATIVES

4.3          METHODS OF TREATMENT

CHAPTER FIVE

• SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND REFERENCES
• CONCLUSION
• SUMMARY

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                        INTRODUCTION

Bamboo has a long and well-established tradition as a building material throughout the world’s tropical and sub-tropical regions. It is widely used for many forms of construction, in particular for housing in rural areas. It is estimated that there are 1200 species growing in about 14.5 million hectares area. Most of them grow in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It grows approximately 7.5 to 40cm a day, with world record being 1.2m in 24 hours in Japan. Commercially important species of bamboo usually mature in four or five years time, after which multiple harvests are possible every second year, for up to 120 years in some species and indefinitely in others.

1.1                                         BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

The world timber demand is increasing at a rapid rate but the timber supply is depleting. It’s been found through research that bamboo can suitably replace timber and other materials in construction and other works. Industrially treated bamboo has shown great potential for production of composite materials and components which are cost-effective 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. Examples of bamboo products are food containers, handicrafts, toys, furniture, flooring, pulp and paper, boats, charcoal, musical instruments and weapons.  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 for economical housing. It has been used in bicycles, windmills, scales etc. Its uses are broad and plentiful.

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.

1.2                                               OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is to discuss the Utilization of Bamboo for construction is achieved by a structural frame technique which is related to same approach applied in usual timber frame design and construction.

1.3                                            GENERAL USES OF BAMBOO

• Soil stabilization, wind break, urban waste water treatment and reduction of nitrates contamination
• Creating a fire line in traditional forests-due to the high content of silica.
• Removing atmospheric carbon- bamboo can capture 17 metric tons of carbon per hectare per year, i.e., effectively than any other species.
• The shoots are edible.
• Building and construction.
• Small scale and cottage industries, for handicrafts and other products.
• New generation products as wood substitutes
• Industrial products
• Transportation industry- truck bodies, railway carriages etc.
• Boards and furniture
• Medicine
• Paper and pulp industry
• Long time source of biomass for industry
• Fuel source- capable of generating 1000-6000 cal/g- for households and small industries is an age-old, continuing practice.

1.3                                             ADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO

The various advantages of bamboo are mentioned below:

1. Light, strong and versatile
2. Environment friendly
3. Accessible to the poor
4. Self renewing resource
5. Fast growing
6. Highly productive

1.4                               DISADVANTAGES/PROBLEM OF BAMBOO

The major disadvantages of bamboo are as follows;                                            

1. Requires preservation
2. Shaped by nature
3. Durability–bamboo is subjected to attack by fungi, insects; for this reason, untreated bamboo structures are viewed as temporary with an expected life of not more than 5 years.
4. Jointing–although many jointing techniques exist, their structural efficiency is low.
5. Lack of design guidance and codes.
6. Prone to catch fire very fast by the friction among the culms during wind, and is seen to cause forest fires.

1.5                                ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO

Tensile strength:

Tensile strength of bamboo is very high if we compare it with steel. The reason for that is the fibers in the bamboo usually run axially (parallel to its length). It is not in much use than steel because of its lacking in transfer this tensile strength.

Shrinking:

Shrinking power of bamboo is much greater than any other type of wood. We can say that it is drawback of bamboo that leads to its less usage.

Fire Resistance:

Bamboo usually has high fire resistant capability. It can bear the temperature up to 4000C.

Elasticity:

Bamboo has very good elasticity characteristics. It can be used in earthquake areas due to its elastic nature.

Weight of bamboo:

Bamboo usually has very low weight. So it can be moved to the place of its usage very easily.

1.6                                   PROJECT APPLICATION

Many businesses and consumers are turning to bamboo for many solutions to the problems that are becoming increasingly more distressing. Some of these solutions include:

• Bamboo paper – With nearly 1 million acres of forest land vanishing a week, according to Johnson’s article, “Use of Eco-Friendly Bamboo Products on the Rise”, using bamboo for paper in offices is essential. It is nearly impossible to go completely paperless, with technology in different levels in the country, and all the paper used being made of bamboo helps.
• Flooring – Bamboo flooring has been shown to be an easy alternative to hardwood flooring. As strong as or stronger than the number one hardwood flooring material, Maple wood, the bamboo is becoming increasingly popular because of the many finishes it can be acquired in, as well as the strength of the flooring.
• Housing materials – As a building material, bamboo can be superior to wood. Taking very little time to replenish, and being comparable in tensile strength to steel, bamboo is being used more and more in housing and fencing.
• Erosion control – Planting bamboo is becoming a defense against erosion control as well. The thick root systems are excellent in keeping the dirt in place for other agricultural feats, and for preserving the land.

1.7                                                  PROJECT MOTIVATION

There are many reasons to use this ancient plant as a modern solution to modern problems. These motivations are based on proven ecological factors that show conclusively that bamboo is better for the environment. These factors include:

• Quick growth– Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet. It grows to full maturity in a matter of months or years, while traditional timber wood takes decades to do so.
• Reduction of CO2 – Bamboo is shown to absorb more carbon dioxide than other plants, and puts out 35% more oxygen than trees.
• Rejuvenates soil – As a plant, bamboo rejuvenates soil because removal of the plant isn’t necessary for successful harvesting. The thick root systems keep the soil in place, and the litter it produces rejuvenates soil that has been damaged by over farming.
• Grows almost anywhere – One of the best features of bamboo is that it grows almost anywhere that isn’t too cold. Surviving in rain forests as well as deserts, bamboo needs very little water and no pesticides to survive.

Because of the destruction of forest land and many other ecological problems, man has been looking for an answer to the heavy usage of timber for paper and other materials. In the ancient product of bamboo, we may have found it, from bamboo paper, to bamboo clothing. Easy to produce and environmentally friendly, bamboo is becoming more and more popular with businesses and consumers alike.

CHAPTER FIVE

            5.1                                                       SUMMARY

Since time immemorial, bamboo has played an important role in the development of mankind. It is used for a wide range of day-to-day purposes, both as a woody material and as food. It has been the backbone of much of the world’s rural life and will remain so as the population increases. The properties as top grade building material and increased availability of bamboo in our country makes it possible to use, bamboo in the field of construction extensively. Its high valued utilization not only promotes the economic development, but also saves forest resources to protect our ecological environment as a wood substitute. As an economic building material, bamboo’s rate of productivity and cycle of annual harvest outstrips any other naturally growing resource, if today you plant three or four structural bamboo plants, then in four or five years later you will have mature clumps, and in eight years you will have enough mature material to build a comfortable, low cost house.

5.2                                                                              CONCLUSION

Scientific studies have shown that Bamboo can satisfy the various structural requirements and also due to its technical performance Bamboo can be used as a construction material for various structural components. The important advantages which make Bamboo a more suitable material are:

• It is economical and helps achieve cost effective construction.
• Bamboo is a fast growing species and it is a renewable resource which can be cultivated in most types of soil.
• The designs of the components being simple, there is no need of highly skilled labour.
• The dependency on the natural forests for wood will be reduced thus contributing to the protection of the environment.
• As it can grow in many types of soil, bamboo cultivation is suitable for rehabilitation of degraded forests and other waste lands thus converting them into fertile lands to some extent.
• Creation of employment opportunities especially for the rural people as the Bamboo mats have to be manually woven before making them into Bamboo Mat Boards, Bamboo Mat Veneer Composites and Bamboo Mat Corrugated Sheets.
• Thus due to all the above aspects there will be overall welfare of the society, particularly of the economically weaker section.