Abstract:
This study evaluates the effect of orientation and arrangement of bamboo strips on structural strength of
laminated bamboo beams, the study is motivated by the anatomical features of bamboo internode and earlier
studies that has shown that strength properties increase from inner to outer layer of the culm and so is the
concentration of the cellulose fibers. Mature Bamboo was harvested, split, treated and dried for the study;
tensile test was carried out on strips with nodes, strips with outer skin removed and strips with outer skin intact.
Laminated bamboo beams were made in various variations; two orientations, strips facing each other and strips
facing same direction in respect to inner and outer face of culm, beams with coinciding nodes at mi point and
beams made with jointed strips. Bending and compression tests were performed on the specimens. The results
showed that orientation of bamboo beams and direction of loading has an effect on flexural strength of
laminated bamboo beams, beams loaded on the edge had the highest flexural strength than beams loaded on the
face, beams with strips facing the same direction and loaded on the inner face had the highest Modulus of
Elasticity for the face loaded beams, nodes had a reducing effect on longitudinal tensile strength but had
reinforced effect increasing flexural strength of beams while loaded on the face and on the edges, although
having staggered joints in strips reduced the flexural strength of beams, the achieved values were sufficient for
common construction works compared to commonly used timber species.
