Mechanical behavior of round bamboo under transverse local compression

Abstract

Bamboo is a material with low transverse mechanical properties. To study the mechanical behavior of round bamboo under transverse local compression, 60 round bamboo culms were subjected to three-point bending tests. The effects of different parameters on the transverse local compressive behavior were investigated experimentally. Finally, the transverse local compressive ultimate bearing capacity of round bamboo was estimated using prediction equations. The results indicated that under three load boundary conditions, axial cracks appeared on both sides of the specimens in the midspan region, dents of different sizes appeared at the loading points, and additional fractures occurred in the inner diaphragms of the specimens with the loading point at the node. The specimens subjected to point and line loads underwent brittle failure. Under the space-curve load, the specimens with a loading point at the internode exhibited ductile failure, whereas the specimens with a loading point at the node exhibited brittle failure. To obtain a favorable transverse local compressive ultimate bearing capacity, it was optimal to consider the space-curve load as the load boundary condition and position the transverse local compression at the bamboo node. The results of the prediction equations agreed well with the test results.