ABSTRACT

Bamboo being a renewable and less expensive material compared to other hardwoods and being one of the fastest growing plants on Earth could play a bigger part in construction. It can be paralleled to regular hardwoods on strength, tenacity, rigidity, tractability, and has better mechanical performance. For functionality trait it can be formed into different applications, one of these applications is a panel type door. Panel type door made from engineered bamboo is the product of this study. Engineered bamboo or laminated bamboo lumber involves of materials from bamboo culms cut into desired dimensions to form bamboo slats then gluing together to form boards or planks that can be develop into several products such as furniture, decorations, finishing materials, musical instruments and other construction materials. Bamboo planks are also tested in accordance with The Standard Testing Method for Evaluating Properties of Wood-Base Fiber and Particle Panel Material (ASTM D1037) as carried out by the Forest Product and Research Development Institute (FPRDI). In these test include their physical and mechanical properties like moisture content, delamination, water absorption and thickness swelling, static bending or modulus of rupture, hardness, screw and nail withdrawal, modulus of elasticity and glueline shear test. Test result shows that HAP sample acquired the most favourable value for Modulus of Rupture, Modulus of Elasticity and Compression Parallel to Surface having 85.73 MPa, 20.22 GPa and 34.70 MPa respectively. While sample VHAP acquired the

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most value for the Hardness, Nail Withdrawal, Screw Withdrawal 4.23 KN, 60.50 kgf, 255.85 kgf. The bond test conducted where shear test and delamination test are included where remarked passed the requirements of PNS 196:2000. While the moisture content of the samples provided HAP with 14.20% and VHAP of 14.49% where cited to be higher than the requirements of PNS 196:2000 (13%), however was still acceptable because of the production process involved. With the water absorption and delamination test for both HAP and VHAP where remarked passed the PNS 230:1989. Survey was conducted for the acceptability and feasibility of the Bamboo Panel Type Door with different persons in different category of profession. The respondents covered by the survey are civil engineers/MEPFS, contractors, owners, researchers, architects and professors. Thirty percent (30%) of it are at age ranging from 20 29 years old, another thirty percent (30%) ranging from 30 39 years old, fifteen percent (15%) from 40 49 years old and twenty-five percent (25%) are at the 50 years of age and above. On these respondents who conducted the survey, the percentage of males are sixty-five percent (65%) corresponds to 13 professionals and for the females are thirty-five (35%) which corresponds to 7 professionals. According on the statistics of the survey, average answers are somewhat interested on the product on all ages including males/females respondents was noted. Fourteen (14) of the respondents will probably recommend the new innovation of engineered bamboo panel door as a replacement or alternatives of using hardwood in making doors, flooring, etc. Six (6) out of twenty (20) respondents answered they will definitely recommend this bamboo product either because of the cost, appearance, design and effectiveness.
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