BAMBOO

Introduction

Bamboo is one of the most sustainable building materials on

the planet and is termed as vegetable steel with a tensile strength of 28000 per square inch and provide earthquake resistant structures.

Facts about bamboo

• Bamboo contains high levels of starch which attracts insects. without proper treatment, bamboo has a natural durability of less than 2 years.

• Species like genus “dendrocalamus” and “bambusa” have the best properties for structural applications.

• One of the fastest growing plants on earth.its growth rate ranges from 30cm to 1m in 24 hours.

• 1450 species are found in diverse climates across the world.

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

7. Earthquake resistance

How to protect bamboo

• SOAKING: A method commonly used in India is to soak bamboo for ninety days in water. Then set to dry in a sunny area for two weeks.

• AIR DRYING: Cut the bamboo leaving the branches and leafs still attached. Store the bamboo upright in the sun for two weeks. Then continue drying in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight, cross your fingers and hope for the best. Depending on the area, watch for molding.

• ABURANUKI: The Japanese method of drying used by the Shaku hachi or flute makers of Japan.

bamboo Uses

• 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

Use Percent Consumption

Paper Pulp 35.0

Housing 20.0

Non-Residential 5.0

Rural uses 20.0

Fuel 8.5

Packing, including baskets 5.0

Transport 1.5

Furniture 1.0

Other wood industries 1.0

Others, including ladders etc. 3.0

• Scaffolding• Reinforcement• Roofing• Walling• Doors &

Windows

Bamboo, like true wood, is a natural composite material with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures

Major Uses of Bamboo in Construction

Various structural shapes may be made by training the bamboo to assume them as it grows. Squared sections of bamboo are created by compressing the growing stalk within a square form. Arches may similarly be created by forcing the bamboo's growth into the desired form, costing much less than it would to obtain the same shape with regular wood timber.

Bamboo House

• It is a combination of traditionalism and modernity, a bamboo construction is in roofed garden and high level thermal insulated systems.

• The solar array here is able to generate nine kilowatts electricity for a bedroom and a living room blueprint.

• Traditional Chinese architecture technology inclusive of humidity and temperature control system.

ScaffoldingBecause of the favorable relationship between load-bearing capacity and weight, bamboo can be used for the construction of save scaffoldings even for very tall buildings. Only lashed joints are used. The cane extension is carried out by lashing thecane ends together with several ties.

RoofingThe 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 bestrong enough to resist the considerable forces generated by wind and roof coverings.

Five story parking garage at the Leipzig Zoo using bamboo for the building’s envelope

Reinforcement

Walling Bamboo can be cut and laminated into sheets and planks. This process involves cutting stalks into thin strips, planing them flat, and boiling and drying the strips; they are then glued, pressed and finished

Potential for Sustainability

• Renewable – can be harvested without damaging the plant and grows extremely quickly

• Plentiful – there is great potential for timber-quality bamboo to be produced in the U.S.

• Local – can be grown locally in a small land area

• Waste-reducing – sequesters carbon and leaves can be used as fodder or compost

State Bamboo Growing Area (Sq.Km.)

Bamboo Stock(Million tons)

Mizoram 9210 10.89

Assam 8213 13.41

Arunachal Pradesh 4590 9.84

Manipur 3692 11.47

Meghalaya 3102 4.41

Tripura 939 0.86

Nagaland 758 3.66

Total 30504 54.53

Status of Bamboo Resources in North-Eastern Region

Most Suited Species

Bamusa bamboos Dendrocalamus strength

Bright shiny, green when fresh, yellow with age

Pale blue green when fresh dull green to yellow with age

Height 15-30m 8-16m

Diameter Upto 150mm 25-80 mm

Internodes 200-400mm 300-400 mm

Thickness Thick-walled Thick walled often solid Other species: Bamboo Below; Bamboo;

Dendrocalamus as per;Dendrocalamus transitions

Bamboo is a group of of woody pernennial grasses in the grass family poaceae, which is large family with over 10000 species. Bamboo species can be divided into clumpers and runners.The seven species of bamboos.

1. Bambusa Balcooa 2. Bambusa Bambos 3. Bambusa Nutans 4. Bambusa Tulda 5. Dendrocalamus Giganteus 6. Dendrocalamus Strictus 7. Melocanna Bambusoides

Species of Bamboo

Sizes

Bamboo sizes are generally specified by minimum diameter, wall thickness and length. For the type of conservation covered by this manual, columns and roof members should be 80-100mm in diameter with wall thickness of 10-12mm.

For purlins, round-solid or near culms 25-35 mm in diameter should be used.

Grading of structural bamboo

Sorting out bamboo on the basis of characteristics importance for structural utilization.• Diameter and length of culms• Taper of culms• Straightness of culms• Inter-nodal length• Wall thickness• Density and strength• Durability and seasoning.

Conclusion

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.

ABHISHEK SAINIMade This.