Bamboo as a Building Material1

Bamboo as a Building MaterialInstitute for Structural DesignRWTH Aachen University

- giant grass

- distribution: tropical areas

- growth: telescope-like diameter decreases with increasing height growth exclusively in length no changes in thickness

- Guadua Angustifolia: growth in length: 12 cm / day height: 20-25m diameter: about 12 cm

- lignifi cation: after about 3 years

- harvest after about 5 years

The Bamboo PlantBamboo as a Building MaterialInstitute for

Structural DesignRWTH Aachen University

- cell section

- divided in nodes and segments

- strengthened by diaphragms at the nodes

- all fi bers orientated lengthwise: softer at the inside harder at the outside

> light

> Tensile strength nearly as high as steel!

The Bamboo CulmBamboo as a Building MaterialInstitute for

Structural DesignRWTH Aachen University

Bamboo as a Building MaterialInstitute for Structural DesignRWTH Aachen University Advantages of Bamboo

- fast growing natural material

- binding of CO2

- sustainability

- available in large amounts (countries of origin)

Bamboo as a Building MaterialInstitute for Structural DesignRWTH Aachen University Advantages of Bamboo as a Building Material

- high mechanical strength

- high fl exibility (earthquake-proof)

- inexpensive and sustainable

- development of new areas of application for bamboo in the building industry

- innovative application for represantative buildings with high span widths

- application possible in countries of origin as well as in Europe (tropical panache)

- encouragement of autonomy in the countries of origin by export (pre-fabrication)

- application as whole culm or as pre-fabricated product (e.g. plates)

Bamboo as a Building MaterialInstitute for Structural DesignRWTH Aachen University Bamboo Space Frames

- thrust load: maximum utilization of the mechanical properties of the bamboo profi le (tube with reinforcements, fi brousity)

- better environmental performance for use of whole bamboo culms than for processed products.

- prefabrication of construction elements: - easy and fast application - no adjustments at the construction site - quality assurance by prefabrication

- joint construction transferable from other materials (e.g. Mero/steel etc.)

- reusability of beams and joints