Effect of flowering on physical and mechanical properties of Dendrocalamus brandisii (Munro) Kurz

Abstract

Dendrocalamus brandisii is one of the giant bamboo species having potential for structural applications. However, very limited data are available on the physical and mechanical properties of this species. This species flowers sporadically as well as gregariously. Gregarious flowering leads to availability of a huge quantity of bamboo. There is considerable apprehension in utilising flowering culms because of the belief that flowered culms are inferior in properties. The study describes the effect of flowering on physical and mechanical properties of D. brandisii. Density, volumetric shrinkage, and bending and compressive strengths of fruited culms were significantly less, whereas the values for non-flowered and flowering culms were comparable. Bending stiffness was comparable for all the three stages of bamboo. Although the bending and compressive strengths of fruited culms of D. brandisii were lower than the non-flowered and flowered culms, still the properties are comparable to the corresponding strength properties reported for other bamboo species. The study reveals that the strength properties of flowering culms of D. brandisii are no way inferior to non-flowered culms and can be used for structural application at par with non-flowered culms.