Review on manufacturing and fundamental aspects of laminated bamboo products for structural applications

Abstract

LBPs are prepared in two ways either utilizing the roller pressed bamboo culm split (Zephyr mat) or preparing the bamboo strips with a wood planer. • LBPs are eco-friendly alternatives to traditional building materials. • LBPs’ mechanical properties are comparable to wood-based materials and concrete. • Bamboo’s chemical surface modification methods are promising in LBPs’ durability enhancement. Adverse effect of conventional construction materials on the environment has enforced researchers to use natural resources. Use of bamboo as a building material is increasingly becoming a popular topic of study in bio-composite research. Bamboo is highly renewable with better strength to weight ratio than conventional building materials and wood. Researchers have gained significant motivation in developing laminated bamboo products (LBPs), which can be used as beams and columns in the housing structure. This study presents the challenges and advantages of preparing LBPs to replace conventional construction materials. Firstly, the background and numerous applications of bamboo have been discussed. Then, different fabrication processes for LBPs have been discussed to comprehend their development challenges. Mechanical properties of the LBPs from multiple studies have been reviewed and analysed for their use in structural applications. To improve the deterioration of the bamboo, the authors have offered several points linked to their surface modification. In addition, future study in this field is mentioned as a source of inspiration for further advancement.