UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL & PRODUCTION ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

POTENTIAL OF USING LOCALLY

AVAILABLE NATURAL PLANT FIBRES
IN ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS

BEEKHORY. A , RUGHOOA. A , JORY. V , RAMGOOLAM. D

07.04.2015

POTENTIAL OF USING LOCALLY

AVAILABLE NATURAL PLANT FIBRES
IN ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS
Use of Bamboo plant and fibres

Submitted by :
BEEKHORY Abdool Zuber Ahmad

1413875

RUGHOOA Ashish

1414148

JORY Vinit Vyas

1414502

RAMGOOLAM Divesh

1415156

Course: BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (minor: Energy systems) E443 Level 1
Module: MECH 1014Y- Mechanics of materials 1
Instructor: Mr. Chummun. J

Date of Submission: 07.04.2015

ABSTRACT
Mauritius is known to be an agricultural island and since aeons, locally available plants
and crops have been used in various fields. However their uses have remained limited
in engineering applications. But with a shift towards more sustainable development
projects and an inspiring philosophy promoting ecological principles, uses of plants and
their fibres have been reviewed. This report aims to assess the possible uses of
bamboo fibre in engineering applications, particularly as a reinforcement material in
concrete and discuss whether it can eventually substitute steel. In this optic, mechanical
and chemical properties of bamboo have been described, quantitatively discussed and
compared to steel and some well known fibres. Results from previously carried out
experiments (tensile tests and flexural strength tests) are discussed and the use of
bamboo is evaluated. A few other bamboo based composites are mentioned briefly,
highlighting the versatility of bamboo. Finally, for future directions, some
recommendations are discussed with hope that the promising implementation of such
projects can be materialized and contribute to sustainable development.

Table of Contents
1.

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................1

2.

THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE USE OF PLANT FIBRES ...................................................2

2.1 Availability and low cost production..............................................................................3
2.2 Easy friendly processing ................................................................................................4
2.3 Eco-friendly alternative ...................................................................................................5
2.4 Increase in the rate of employment ................................................................................5

3.

PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO ...................................................................................................6

3.1 Internal structure .............................................................................................................6
3.2 Mechanical properties .....................................................................................................7
3.2.1 Bending ..........................................................................................................................7
3.2.2 Elasticity .........................................................................................................................7
3.2.3 Fire resistance ...............................................................................................................7
3.2.4 Shrinkage and swelling ................................................................................................7
3.2.5 Comparison of mechanical properties with well known materials .........................8
3.3 Chemical composition ....................................................................................................9
3.4 Bamboo treatment ...........................................................................................................9

4.

MECHANICAL TESTS ON BAMBOO AND BAMBOO-CONCRETE COMPOSITES ........ 10

4.1 Tensile test on bamboo strip ........................................................................................10
4.2 Flexural strength test ....................................................................................................11

5.

RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS ........................................................................................ 13

5.1 Tensile strength .............................................................................................................13
5.2 Flexure test results........................................................................................................14
5.3 Important Observations ................................................................................................18
5.4 Observations from other studies .................................................................................18

6.

CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................... 20
6.1 Other bamboo based composites ................................................................................20

7.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS .......................................................................................................... 21

8.

REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 22

1. INTRODUCTION

Engineers have always come up with new ideas and concepts to improve the standard
of life. With new technologies, new materials have seen the dawn and are now
anchored in our daily life. However with increasing concerns about resources availability
and climate change due to industrial practices, engineers have eventually realised the
need to look for greener alternatives and hence turn to nature. Natural fibres seem
viable alternatives and there is perpetual research aiming to unlock the promises these
fibres uphold. Likewise, bamboo fibres are of great interest in the field of construction
and for structural purposes. Used as a building material by many populations in Asia in
a traditional sense, bamboo has now found its applications in reinforcing concrete and
as a potential substitute for commonly used steel. The aim of this report is to shed light
on the potential of bamboo fibres, which is locally available in Mauritius, as an
engineering material and assess whether it can be used as reinforcement in concrete.
Bamboo plants are giant grasses belonging to the family of Bambusoideae. They are
large, often tree-like with woody stem. We can find bamboo plants growing in dense
clumps. The largest of them reach the height of 40 meters. The stems are slender, 25 to
50 cm in diameter and hollow. As in grasses generally, they have well marked joints or
nodes.

Fig 1- Bamboo plant and its parts (Bamboo the plant and its usesWalter Liese, Michael Khl)

Bamboo grow mainly in tropical and subtropical regions and there exists about over
1000 species of bamboos in the world (Ghavami, 2004). In Mauritius, according to the
forestry department of the ministry of food and agro industry, the total area of forest
lands is estimated at 57,059 hectares of which 22,519 hectares is state-owned and the
rest is privately owned. Bamboo plants can be found in these forests and are described
as Non-timber forest products of the Plant origin (NTFP) - (FOA report, 2011).
Bamboos are well known to the local people and cultures. Locally, bamboo can be
found in regions like Valetta, Midlands, Petrin, Chamarel. They have become an
important raw material for a number of wood based industries and are commonly used
for artisanal purposes - handicrafts, decorations, manufacture of kanwars and
cavadees during religious festivals, musical instruments, artisanal fishing rod, etc.
However its uses in engineering applications are limited mostly due to inadequate
expertise, infrastructural, technological and research facilities.
2. THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE USE OF PLANT FIBRES

Based on the budget 2015-16 published by the Board of Investment, one interesting
and inspiring measure is to create employment-rich projects that will be spread across
the country. Eight of these projects will be designed on the Smart City concept that will
bring about a total revolution in the way we live, work and play. Such cities are designed
in a way to be environmental friendly and to promote self sustainability. (Anon, 2015)
In this optic, exploiting our natural resources will be a great way to achieve this goal.
Mankind has always been dependent on natural fibres for their existence. Mauritius has
an enormous reserve of natural fibrous plant such as

Banana

Pineapple

Figue

Vacoas

Aloe

Broom

Bamboo

Coconut

Reasons to opt for these fibres are:

2.1 Availability and low cost production

Normally people are only interested in fruits or a specific part of a plant. The other
portions of the plant are disposed as waste. Often in farming practices, farmers often
have huge stacks of stems and leaves on fields. If not for composting, these waste can
be easily sold to local processing factories. This would not just promote recycling but
also increase the income of the farmers.

Fig 2- Waste of useful resources (Thumbs.dreamstime.com, 2015)

2.2 Easy friendly processing

While this report compares a few mechanical properties of bamboo to those of steel,
another interesting comparison is in the manufacture and processing of the materials.
Production of steel requires mining operations, complex processes and complex
machining whereas to produce bamboo fibres no such operations are required. The
production of natural fibres is easier and is energy efficient. It causes no wearing of
tools and skin problems unlike other materials. Fig 3 and 4 (below) illustrate this
comparison.

Fig 3- Production of steel (Dtzone.com, 2015)

Fig 4- Production of natural fibres- (Lapinusfibres.com,

2015)

2.3 Eco-friendly alternative

Sustainable development is essential for our survival. The manufacture of steel, just like
many industrialized materials causes significant amount of pollution. Bamboo and other
natural fibres are renewable resources. Their production requires little energy; CO2 is
used while oxygen is given back to the environment. Hence the cultivation of fibrous
plants as building materials would help in facing climate changes.

2.4 Increase in the rate of employment

Most of the fibres are extracted manually since their extraction by mechanical
processes damages the fibres. However the manual yield is very low and therefore
need to be done by skilled workers. In Mauritius, given that bamboo and many natural
fibres grow mainly in rural regions, job opportunities will open to inhabitants.

(Ecogreenunit.org, 2015)
Fig 5- Women are being trained for manufacturing a banana-fibre product in India ( Ecogreenunit.org, 2015)

2.5 Sustainability
While many industrialized materials originate from petroleum or metal ores, they are
likely to deplete. Bamboo is an ideal sustainable source of raw material because of its
quick growth. Compared with traditional hardwoods that can take up to 20-120 years to
reach full maturity, bamboo only takes 3-5 years, yet the strength and hardness of
bamboo is equivalent to hardwood timber, and costs are comparable. Bamboo does
not require replanting after harvesting because its vast root networks continually sprout
new shoots, which pull in carbon dioxide and convert it to new growth. (Ecologic
Mauritius, 2005)

3. PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO

The application of bamboo in engineering relies on its mechanical and chemical

properties. Therefore a good knowledge of these is essential in the understanding to put
into practice any possible application.

3.1 Internal structure

Compared to wood, bamboo gets stronger on the outside due to the presence of stiff,
fibrous sclerenchyma cells forming the vascular bundle and parenchyma cells
surrounding the bundle, along the culm.
If a cross section of bamboo is observed under a microscope the small fibrous cells
surrounding the vascular bundles are found to be made up of even smaller cellulose
fibrils bound together with lignin. The axial orientation of these fibres gives the bamboo
a high longitudinal elastic modulus and the lignification gives the bamboo a high
transverse rigidity. (Wang, 2012)

Fig 6- Microstructure of bamboo though a cross-sectional cut (Michael R. Gerhardt,

Microstructure and mechanical properties of bamboo in compression, 2012)

Bamboo can therefore be itself be characterised as a composite material with cellulose

fibres and lignin as the main components

3.2 Mechanical properties

Bamboos mechanical properties determine largely its ability to withstand loads and
other constraints to which it is subjected to. Some important properties are discussed
below.

3.2.1 Bending

One of the important and interesting features of the bamboo is that it is can bend to
quite an amount without cracking, hence its use as fishing rods. Moreover, it can be
used in construction as reinforcement.

3.2.2 Elasticity

Because of the cavity, bamboo is very elastic and can have an elastic modulus of 1900
kN/cm2. Also, bamboo has natural damping properties and can absorb vibration.
(Mechanical properties of bamboo. 2015. Mechanical properties of bamboo. [ONLINE] Available
at: http://bambus.rwth-aachen.de/eng/reports/mechanical_properties/referat2.html.
[Accessed 04 April 2015])

3.2.3 Fire resistance

Having a high silicate acid content, filled with water, the bamboo can resist temperature
up to 400 C.

3.2.4 Shrinkage and swelling

The parenchyma cells in the bamboo absorb moisture thus causing the dimension of
the bamboo to change. Therefore, bamboos dimension is dependent on humidity and
temperature.

3.2.5 Comparison of mechanical properties with well known materials

Table 1- Comparing some of the mechanical properties of bamboo to other materials

and fibres:
Material

Elastic
modulus/
GPa

Tensile
strength/
GPa

Compressive Flexure
strength/
strength/
MPa
MPa

Shear strength/
MPa

CNC

150

7.5

Kevlar 49

125

3.5

190

50

Carbon
fibre

150

3.5

740-2330

1810

Carbon
300
nanotubes

20

Stainless
steel

200

0.5

140

140

92

Oak

10

0.1

Bamboo

19

0.35-0.5

92-93

76-276

20

(Wood pulp extract stronger than carbon fiber or Kevlar. 2015. Wood pulp extract stronger than carbon
fiber or Kevlar. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.gizmag.com/cellulose-nanocrystals-stronger-carbonfiber-kevlar/23959/. [Accessed 04 April 2015].)

As it can be seen, bamboo is almost comparable to steel and hence, it can be used to
replace steel in many applications such as building frames or acting as reinforcement in
beams.

3.3 Chemical composition

Bamboo is constituted mainly of water and starch. High levels of humidity and starch
content make bamboos vulnerable to insect attacks (Ghavami, 2004)

3.4 Bamboo treatment

As previously mentioned, the dimensions of bamboo depend on its humidity and

temperature. Water absorption causes shrinkage or swelling in bamboos which is
undesirable in the making of bamboo-concrete composites. Swelling and shrinkage also
affect bonding strength negatively. In the context of the bamboo-concrete composite,
bonding refers to how the bamboo adheres to the concrete. (Ghavami, 2004)
Drying bamboo is therefore essential in the conservation of bamboo culms. To achieve
a better grade of material, water-repellent treatment and improved bonding is required.
Proposed treatments for bamboo include the application of an epoxy layer on the
bamboo surface to then be coated by fine sand. Asphalt and tar based paints also
improve impermeability. The application of a new product, Sikadur 32-Gel to bamboo
improves bonding strength and prevents corrosion. Another factor to consider in the
design of concrete-bamboo composite is the different thermal expansions of each
material. (Ghavami, 2004)
To cope with possible insect attacks, the starch content is reduced through curing,
immersion, heating or smoke. (Ghavami, 2004)

4. MECHANICAL TESTS ON BAMBOO AND BAMBOO-CONCRETE

COMPOSITES

Having discussed the useful properties and limitations of bamboo as a reinforcement

material, we shall now describe how samples of concrete-bamboo composite can be
prepared and tested for their mechanical properties to evaluate whether the concept is
viable and feasible.
Previous researches (Ghavami, 2004 & Sevalia, 2013) have successfully tested the
concrete-bamboo composite using different configurations, arrangements and
treatments of the materials involved. Commonly tested samples were in the form of
beams or columns. Treated or untreated bamboo culms of different varieties where
made into different shapes and implemented in the concrete in different arrangements.
4.1 Tensile test on bamboo strip

Steel bars or bamboo bars are added to concrete to compensate for the low tensile
strength of concrete. From experiments (Sevalia, 2013), the tensile strength of bamboo
was determined.
Untreated bamboo culms specimen of length 520mm (with the two extremities being
nodes) and thickness 10mm was tested for tensile strength on Universal Testing
Machine model TUN 600. Tensile load was varied and deflection values were noted and
used with the bamboo dimensions to compute the Stress v/s Strain curve (Fig 14)

Fig 7 and 8 Bamboo Specimen and

test set up in Testing machine
(Sevalia, 2013)

10

4.2 Flexural strength test

Flexural strength Tests were carried out on beams of dimensions 750mm x 130mm x
130mm.Three types of beams were tested (Fig 9- Fig 11)

Fig 9- Plain cement concrete beam with the absence of bamboo reinforcement

Fig 10- Singly reinforced concrete-bamboo beam with 2 bamboo strips

Fig 11- Doubly reinforced concrete-bamboo beam with 4 bamboo strips in total
(Fig 9 Fig 11 from Sevalia, 2013)

11

Loading system
The beam is set up as shown in Fig 12 and 13. Load W is varied and deflection values
were recorded to compute Load Vs Deflection curve (Fig 17 and 20)

Fig 12 and 13- Set up for flexural strength test (Sevalia, 2013)

12

5. RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS

5.1 Tensile strength

From the results of the tensile test, a graph of stress versus strain was plotted and the following
was obtained:

Fig 14- Stress-Strain curve for the tested Bamboo (Sevalia, 2013)

From the graph, using the yield stress of bamboo and the corresponding strain value
(56.87, 0.0015) the modulus of elasticity was calculated and found to be 37913.33
N/mm2.

13

5.2 Flexure test results

(i)

Beam failure was observed when applied load was 11.65 kN for plain cement
concrete beam.

(ii)

For the singly reinforced beam, the beam cracked at the middle third potion with the
crack widening on further loading until failure occurred at 11.6 kN load.

Fig 15 and 16- Cracking in the beam (Sevalia, 2013)

14

`
A graph of loading versus deflection was plotted and the following was obtained:

Fig 17- Load vs Deflection curve for singly reinforced beam

The modulus of elasticity was calculated using the following formula:

Where,
W = load,
L =length of beam,
I = moment of inertia.
For the singly reinforced beam, E was found to be 3762.9395 N/mm2

15

(iii)

For the doubly reinforced beam, the crack developed in flexure. The failure occurred
at the nodes of the bamboo. The figures below shows the pattern of cracking which
occurred:

Fig 18 and Fig 19- Cracking pattern and failure in doubly reinforced beam
(Sevalia, 2013)

16

`
The graph of load versus deflection for this beam was as follows:

Fig 20- Load vs Deflection curve for doubly reinforced beam (Sevalia, 2013)

The same formula was used to calculate E for doubly reinforced beam as that for the singly
reinforced case. Here, E was found to be 14597.6103 N/mm2.

17

5.3 Important Observations

Very little bonding was observed between the concrete and bamboo strip as
the bamboo was not treated.
The bamboo showed elastic behavior as it could be seen in the tensile
strength test, which is an important characteristic for a material which is
supposed to replace steel.
Elastic behavior was also observed in the flexure test for both the singly and
doubly reinforced beam, with the doubly reinforced beam having a better
performance. Also, loading capacity increases by 29.31%.
Modulus of elasticity is doubled for doubly reinforced beams compared to
singly reinforced ones.
(Sevalia, 2013)

5.4 Observations from other studies

Khosrow Ghavamis paper (Ghavami, 2004) described tests carried out on different
configurations and set up of bamboo reinforced concrete structures namely concrete
slabs and concrete columns. This illustrate that this concept is not limited only to beams
but also other types of structures. The results yielded satisfactory results to consider
bamboo as proper reinforcement material. Fig 21 to 23 show the different arrangements
in which bamboo can fitted in concrete

Fig 21- Bamboo permanent shutters

arrangement used in slabs
(Ghavami, 2004)
18

Fig 22- Bamboo-concrete slabs

(Ghavami, 2004)

Fig 23- Untreated (left) and treated (right) bamboo arrangement for concrete
columns (Ghavami, 2004)

The paper also suggested that failures in mechanical test occur mostly because of low
bonding strength between bamboo and concrete and that many studies are being
focused to improve this aspect.
From compression and tension tests (Fikremariam, 2010) it was stated that
compressive strength of the Bamboo is less than the tensile strength of the Bamboo
and that test on a flexural showed that the treated Bamboo shows slightly higher bond
strength than untreated.
These tests and observations have shed light on the possible uses of bamboo-concrete
structures and how they have to be designed to withstand different types of loads. Such
tests are essential to establish safety norms in the design of any structure.

19

6. CONCLUSION

With emphasis being laid on improved material design and technologies in the
construction sector to face environmental issues, it is clear that bamboo has caught the
eyes of researchers and engineers as an engineering material. According to Khosrow
Ghavami (Ghavami, 2004), bamboo can satisfactorily substitute steel in concrete
reinforcement. Depending on different test set ups from different studies, results for
tensile strength may not be closely the same and often tensile failure occurred when
testing samples but it has been shown almost unanimously that bamboo-concrete
composites perform well in flexural strength tests. Furthermore for bamboo based
structures have been certified by ICBO norms and standards and are being evaluated
for ISO norms in near future (Ghavami, 2004)
Bamboo-concrete composite structural members can provide tailored solutions to ecohousing initiatives at cheaper costs. (Sethia & Baradiya). An instantaneous
mushrooming of bamboo-concrete skyscrapers would seem absurd, but for a start,
simple beam structures and columns, concrete walls, or concrete slabs for paving may
be materialized. If lack of technical information has been hindering developments in this
field, it is to be noted that much improvement has been achieved and there is scope for
further research in a very positive sense.
6.1 Other bamboo based composites

Bamboo, apart from being an interesting substitute to steel in concrete, they are used in
the manufacture of other composites (Glass-bamboo, Bamboo-epoxy, Bamboo
scrimber, Laminated Bamboo) and timber like composites which include Bamboo Mat
Board (BMB), Bamboo Mat Veneer Composite (BMVC) and Bamboo Mat Corrugated
Sheets (BMCS). These composites are used to manufacture furniture and other
products.
For further reading on these composites:

20

http://civil-resources.blogspot.com/2010/06/use-of-bamboo-as-construction-material.html

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061815001117

http://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/IEL/article/download/12245/12598

http://me.byu.edu/news/bamboo-bridge-wins-second-place

7. FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Customers tend to select conventional and industrialized materials because of the lack
of information about unconventional materials such as natural fibres. In the context of
the bamboo fibres, if products made from the above mentioned bamboo composites are
encouraged and promoted in a widespread market, bamboo in general will gain
popularity and people will be more knowledgeable about its uses.
Furthermore there is a the need to introduce more undergraduate and post graduate
courses on the use of bamboo and other natural fibres as structural materials and
develop a culture of sustainable development. At the University of Mauritius, the
Mechanical and Civil engineering departments as well the Department of Applied
Sustainability and Enterprise Development (DASED) work in this respect.
Organizing contests like the SAMPE bridge competition in USA will help promote
natural fibres- This competition requires engineering students from various universities
to build small bridges from natural fibres. It is to be noted that a bamboo composite
bridge made by BYU students won the second prize at the contest
Finally, for such projects to be successfully implemented, the raw material resource
should be abundant and properly maintained. According to the FOA report on forestry,
future measures taken by the Department of forestry includes the creation of about 50
ha of plantations of vegetal fibres by 2020 to provide fibres to the artisans of the
handicrafts sector. The report also states that the demand for vegetal fibres will soar
and hence specific areas will be set aside for the production of Pandanus, aloe, vetivera
and bamboos to support the handicraft industry. If such projects are initiated for the
handicraft industry, likewise, in a near future, the growth of bamboo for construction
purposes may be encouraged.

21

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