Flexural behavior of the untreated plain bamboo reinforced concrete beam under four-point loading

Abstract

Population growth demands shelter, housing, and other infrastructure for utilities and safety. Daily materials like steel, cement, etc. are becoming more expensive. Engineers must use more common and sustainable building materials due to climate, cost, and natural resource depletion. Bamboo is light and fast-growing and is six times the strength-to-weight ratio of steel. Bamboo’s irregular form may be treated with precision and design. In this experimental study, the Dendrocalamus Strictus bamboo is used for the purpose of investigation to highlight the reinforcement nature of bamboo species and analyze its responses to specific loading conditions. The research compared concrete beams reinforced with Dendrocalamus Strictus bamboo to steel-reinforced concrete beams. Untreated bamboo is wrapped in steel wires for friction. This document discusses bamboo, steel reinforcements, and concrete mix parameters for 14 cm × 15 cm × 110 cm beams. This study work discusses the first crack load, ultimate load, load–deflection, and flexural strength of Bamboo Reinforced Concrete (BRC) beams and Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) beams under four-point loading. BRC’s initial crack load is 19kN. The ultimate load of the BRC beam and RCC beam were equivalent after 14 and 28 days. The BRC beam deflected more than the RCC beam. Bamboo with suitable engineering designs and chemical treatment to reduce water absorption may give superior strength and substitute steel for low-cost homes and shelters.