Finger joint performance of structural laminated bamboo member

Abstract

The structural performance of finger-jointed laminated bamboo was investigated for two bamboo species by considering the finger length, profile orientation, lamination direction, culm growth height, and mechanical properties of bamboo materials. Based on the growth height variation and bamboo species, the best finger-jointed laminated bamboo was found for the lamina processed from the middle growth height of a moso bamboo culm with the finger profile shown on the width face of the beam. It was 38.7% higher in bending strength than the lowest group, with the lamina from the lower ma bamboo culm showing the finger profile on the thickness face of the beam. When considering the finger length and lamination orientation, the strongest finger-jointed laminated bamboo joined with an 18-mm finger, showing the finger profile on the width face of a vertically laminated beam was 50.1% higher in bending strength than the lowest group having a 12-mm finger showing the finger profile on the thickness face of a vertically laminated beam. The laminated ma bamboo showed higher finger-joint efficiency, 11.6%, than moso bamboo, and the members showing the finger profile on the width surface was 12.3% better in joint efficiency than that showing on the thickness surface of the beam.