Bamboo as a Material for

Housing and Buildings

Civil Prototyping (SDP-3)

Course Code: ET206

Course Credits: 02
Bamboo Root

Bamboo Shoot
Bamboo as a Building Why....?
material
Why

Not

Wood
Traditional use of Wood and Bamboo
 BAMBOO WOOD
Grows 3times faster Normal growth
Ready and rapid adoptability Wood resources are getting
Harvested annually without diminished
destructing
No annual harvesting
Less capital
More capital
Used by Any villager
Unskilled labour
More Rehabilitation of the soil
Resists tension up to 400 N/mm2 Controls soil erosion
Regenerated in shorter period and Resists tension only up to 50 N/mm2
easy Takes more time to regenerate and
Tolerance to changing temperatures difficult
Tensile strength more than steel Swell or wrap at different
High elastic modulus temperatures
Light weight Heavier weight
Worked out by simple tools Needs heavier tools
Cost of construction is low Higher cost of construction
Forest Cover in India
329 m hectares land area
63.34 m hectares notified as forest
19.15%
Dense forest - 11%
Open forest - 8%
Mangrove - 0.15%
Therefore, there is a need to save forest timber.
Bamboo Addresses THREE Major National
Concerns
ECOLOGICAL SECURITY: conservation of forests through timber substitution,
alternate materials to non-biodegradable & high energy consuming materials like
metals and plastics

SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY: bamboo based agro -forestry system,

maintenance of soil fertility of adjoining agricultural lands, and bamboo shoots

LIVELIHOOD SECURITY: generation of employment in planting and primary

processing for manufacturing mat based composites and other market driven bamboo
products
BAMBOO RESOURCES MAJOR BAMBOO GROWING
IN INDIA REGIONS / STATES

AREA Gross
(%) Share

North East 28.0 66

Madhya Pradesh 20.3 12
Maharashtra 9.9 5
Orissa 8.7 7
Andhra Pradesh 7.4 2
Karnataka 5.5 3
Other States 20.2 5
(Kerala, UP,
Jharkhand,
West Bengal)

LAND AREA 329 MHa India is home to almost 45 % of

FOREST AREA 63.3 MHa
BAMBOO AREA 8.96MHa world's bamboo forests
67% clump forming
33% non clump forming
4.5 M tons annually produced from
8.96 m ha.
Status of Bamboo Resources in North-Eastern
Region
State Bamboo Growing Bamboo Stock
Area (Sq.Km.) (Million tons)
Mizoram 9210 10.89
Assam 8213 13.41

Arunachal Pradesh 4590 9.84

Manipur 3692 11.47
Meghalaya 3102 4.41

Tripura 939 0.86

Nagaland 758 3.66

Total 30504 54.53

Distribution of Some Important Bamboo
Species in India
Species Availability States
% Growing
Stock

D. strictus 45 Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Orissa

M. baccifera 20 Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,
Tipura
B. arundinacia 13 Nagaland, Karnataka, Orissa
D. hamiltonii 7 Arunchal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland

B. tulda 5 Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura

B. pallida 4 Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura

Rest 6
Major Uses of Bamboo
Use Percent Consumption
Paper Pulp 35.0

Housing 20.0
Non-Residential 5.0

Rural uses 20.0

Fuel 8.5

Packing, including baskets 5.0

Transport 1.5

Furniture 1.0
Other wood industries 1.0
Others, including ladders etc. 3.0
Characteristics affecting usefulness of bamboo
as construction material

- the strength of bamboo culms

- their straightness
- lightness combined with hardeners
- range and size of hollowers

with good physical and mechanical properties,

low shrinkage and average density, it is well
suited to replace wood in several applications
 DEALS WITH...

Introduction
General uses
Properties
The working of bamboo
Preservation of bamboo
Bamboo housing
Advantages
Disadvantages
 INTRODUCTION.

Bamboo has a long and well-established tradition as a

building material throughout the worlds tropical and
sub-tropical regions.

Bamboo is a renewable and versatile resource,

characterized by high strength and low weight.

It is estimated that there are 1200 species growing in

about 14.5 million hectares area.

Bamboo is the worlds fastest growing woody plant.

INTRODUCTION.
Bamboo also excels in biomass production,
giving 40 tons or more per hectare annually.

It has been used successfully to rehabilitate soil

ravage by brick making in India.

One bamboo plant closely matted roots can bind

up to six cubic meters of soil.
GENERAL USES
Soil stabilization, wind break, urban waste water treatment
and reduction of nitrates contamination
Removing atmospheric carbon.
Building and construction.
Small scale and cottage industries, for handicrafts and
other products.
New generation products as wood substitutes
Industrial products
Boards and furniture
Medicine
Paper and pulp industry
PROPERTIES
TENSILE STRENGTH
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
ELASTIC MODULUS
ANISOTROPIC PROPERTIES
SHRINKAGE
FIRE RESISTANCE
PROPERTIES
TENSILE STRENTH

SHRINKING

FIRE RESISTANCE

ELASTICITY
SIGNIFICANCE OF BAMBOO AS A
RESOURCE
Giant grass
Growths like telescope
Diameter decreases with
increasing size
No change in thickness
Growth exclusively in
length
Height:20-25m
Eco-friendly products etc
ADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO
Fast growing natural
element
Sustainability
High mechanical strength
High flexibility
Inexpensive
Application as a whole or
as pre-fabricated product
Maximum utilization of
mechanical properties
Easy and fast application
No adjustments at
construction
site[pre-fabricated
products]
Reusability of beams and
joints
Availability in large
amounts[countries of
origin]
Major Uses of Bamboo in Construction

Scaffolding
Reinforcement
Roofing
Walling
Doors & Windows
Bamboo Raw Material to Finished
Product As a Raw Material
Properties:
1. High tensile strength
Building Material
2. Very good weight to
Bamboo Natures Gift strength ratio
1. Environment
[A material for cost effective and friendly
3. Pressure tolerance upto
2. Energy efficient
disaster resistant housing] 3656 kg/cm2
3. Cost effective
4. Easy to handle with
simple tools
5. Renewable raw material

Treatment & Preservation Weaknesses

Preservation (Traditional methods):
Curing; Smoking; Soaking; Seasoning
Chemical Treatment:
Boric acid; Borax; Boron; (Dip diffusion or
modified Boucherie processes)
1. Has short durability compared to wood
2. High moisture and starch content
3. Prone to fungi and beetle attach
4. Service life of untreated bamboo 4-6 years
in exposed conditions

Composite Building
Materials
Mechanical
Mat Hot BMBs, BMPB, BMCS
Process for
weaving Processing Bamboo Lumber
Cutting, slicing,
from and Binding Sandwiched panel
knot removing
Slivers Bamboo based shutters
and slivering
Bamboo flooring Bamboo House
INDIAN SPECIFICATIONS FOR
BAMBOO & BAMBOO PRODUCTS
IS 14588 : 1999 Specification for Bamboo Mat Veneer Composite for General
Purposes
IS 13958 : 1994 Specification for Bamboo Mat Board for General Purposes
IS 1902 : 1993 Code of Practice for Preservation of Bamboo and Cane for
non-structural purposes
IS 10145 : 1982 Specification for Bamboo Supports for Camouflaging
Equipment
IS 9096 : 1979 Code of Practice for Preservation of Bamboo and Cane for
Structural purposes
IS 8242 :1976 Method of Tests for Split Bamboo
IS 8295 :1976 Specification for Bamboo Chicks ; Part 1 Fine, Part 2 Coarse
IS 7344 : 1974 Specification for Bamboo Tent Pole
IS 6874 : 1973 Method of Tests for Round Bamboo
IS 15476 : 2004 Specification for Bamboo Mat Corrugated Sheets
Bamboo has lower natural durability against attack of
fungi and insects
- requires treatment to increase durability - difficult
to be treated by normal preservative methods in
dry conditions.
- Best carried out in green conditions.
IS9096:2006 : Code of Practice for preservation of
bamboo for structural purpose

Covers : Type of preservations,

Treatment procedure for structural purposes like post,
scaffolding, walls, trusses etc.
Preservatives Recommended

- Coal Tar Creosote

- Copper chrome - arsenic compositions
- Acid- cupric chromate composition
- Copper chrome- born composition
- Boni Acid boxes
- Copper zinc napthanate Abietates
Process of Preservation
IS 401:2001 Code of Practice for Preservation of Timber

1. Surface application ( brushing, dipping)

3. Boucheire Process 5. Inter Nodal Injection

4. Diffusion Process

2. Hot & Cold Method

PRESERVATION

Passive methods

Active methods
Smoking
Heating
Immersion
Impregnating coatings
Structural Provision of Bamboo

Part 6 : Structural Design

Section 3: Timber and Bamboo: 3B. Bamboo
National Building Code.

Material Specification
- Physical and mechanical properties of 20
species of bamboo
- 16 species found suitable for structural
purpose and densified in Group A,B,C.
Limiting Strength Values (in Green
Conditions)
Modulus of Modulus of
Rupture (R) Elasticity (E) in
Bending
103 N/mm2
Group A R > 70 E>9

Group B 70> R>50 9>E>6

Group C 50> R>30 6>E>3

Most Suited Species
Bamusa bamboos Dendrocalamus
strength
Bright shiny, green Pale blue green when
when fresh, yellow fresh dull green to
with age yellow with age
Height 15-30m 8-16m

Diameter Upto 150mm 25-80 mm

Internodes 200-400mm 300-400 mm
Thickness Thick-walled Thick walled often
solid
Other species: Bamboo Below; Bamboo; Dendrocalamus as per;
Dendrocalamus transitions
Typical Moisture Content Relation

Matured culms shall be seasoned to about 20% moisture content before use.
Grading of structural bamboo
Sorting out bamboo on the basis of
characteristics importance for structural
utilization
Diameter and length of culms
Taper of culms
Straightness of culms
Inter-nodal length
Wall thickness
Density and strength
Durability and seasoning.
Segregation of Bamboo
Structural Group A and Group B Species

Special Grade: 70mm < diameter < 100m

Grade I 50mm < diameter < 70m
Grade II 30mm < diameter < 50m
Grade III Diameter < 30m

Structural Group C
Special grade I 80mm < diameter < 100m
II 60mm < diameter < 80m
III Diameter < 60m
Taper : shall not be > 5.8 mm/m may be length in any grade.
Curvature : max. curvature shall not be >75mm in length of 6m of any grades.
Wall thickness: Minimum wall thickness of 8mm for load bearing members.
Defects: Dead and immature bamboo, bore/GHOON, holes, decay, collapse,
checks more then 3 mm in depth shall be avoided.
APPLICATIONS OF BAMBOO

Bamboo scaffolding
Bamboo houses
Bamboo roofing
Bamboo mat boards
Bamboo mat door
shutters
Bamboo truss
Bamboo purlins
Bamboo walling
 Bamboo houses
Bamboo scaffolding

Bamboo truss
 Bamboo walling

Bamboo roofing

Bamboo mat door shutters

BAMBOO PRODUCTS

Bamboo Bamboo veneer

planters kitchen
Bamboo
pathway

Bamboo veneer
hall

Bamboo
 Bamboo
twine

Bamboo
plywood
Bamboo copper wire
Bamboo window Bamboo woven
box lumber

Bamboo Bamboo
pathway
BAMBOO REINFORCED CONCRETE

Selection of bamboo
The following factors should be considered

-use only bamboo showing a pronounced brown color

-select the longest large diameter culms

-do not use whole culms of green, unseasoned bamboo

-avoid bamboo cut in spring or early summer.

Preparation

- Sizing

- Splitting
sizin
- Seasoning g

- Bending
splittin
- Waterproof coatings g
bendin
CONSTRUCTION PRINCIPLES

In general, techniques used in conventional

reinforced concrete construction need not to be
changed when bamboo is to be used for
reinforcement.
 Effective seismic and hurricane resistant

Eco-friendly products

Pre-fabricated products

Light-weight material