MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR AND EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF BAMBOO BUNDLES AS SUSTAINABLE REINFORCEMENT IN BEAM DESIGN

Abstract

This study investigates the structural performance of bamboo bundles as sustainable reinforcement materials in beam design under point loading conditions. Two beam configurations were tested: Configuration A with 18 bamboo sticks and Configuration B with 9 bamboo sticks, each spanning 200 mm with a minimum length of 350 mm. Experimental results showed that Configuration A withstood up to 30 kg without failure, exhibiting a maximum mid-span deflection of 10 mm, while Configuration B sustained visible fractures but remained intact at 30 kg, with a maximum deflection of 25 mm. Load-deflection relationships revealed higher stiffness in Configuration A due to increased cross-sectional area and second moment of inertia (EI), whereas Configuration B demonstrated lower stiffness but provided insights into progressive stick failure and bundle cohesion. Despite over-engineering in Configuration A and premature stick failures in Configuration B, both setups emphasized bamboo’s mechanical viability as a natural composite material. The findings highlight bamboo’s potential as an eco-friendly reinforcement alternative, though variability in diameter, density, and fiber orientation posed challenges to predictability. Future optimization could involve reduced stick count (6–7), controlled stress concentrators, and strategic tie placement to enhance predictable, safe failure mechanisms in sustainable structural applications.