Experimental investigation on embedment strength of bamboo-based composite prepared with the inorganic adhesive

Abstract

Bamboo based composite materials have become an effective alternative for the green development in the field of civil engineering. This paper proposed a novel bamboo based composite prepared with the inorganic adhesive by adopting the cold pressing and molding technology, which is named “inorganic-bonded bamboo composite” and abbreviated as InorgBam, as well as the embedment strength of the novel bamboo-based composite was examined. The half-hole test method was adopted to investigate the embedment strength considering the influence factors of nominal dowel diameters and load-to-grain directions. Results indicated that the characteristic embedment strength parallel-to-grain of the InorgBam was unrelated to the dowel diameter when the nominal dowel diameter varies from 10 mm to 20 mm. However, the characteristic embedment strength perpendicular-to-grain declined linearly with the increasing nominal dowel diameters in the range of 10 mm–18 mm, and then remains constant within the range of 18 mm–25 mm in diameter. Hankinson formula for characteristic embedment strength at any angle was found in well agreement with experimental results of the InorgBam. The prediction formula of characteristic embedment strength for the novel InorgBam was corresponding proposed.