Behavior of bamboo reinforced concrete (BRC) beams under monotonic and dynamic loads

The ultimate behavior and performance of concrete beams reinforced with Physllostachys Bambusoides Holocchrysa bamboo rebars are investigated. Four-point bending tests were conducted on a total of 16 beams with a span of L= 150 cm and cross-section sizes of 20 cm/30 cm (12 bamboo reinforced (BRC), 2 steel reinforced (SRC), and 2 plain/unreinforced (PCC) concrete beam) to explore their potential structural benefits. A C30-grade concrete was used in all tests. To investigate the impact of bond strength between bamboo and concrete on the behavior, 4 types of bamboo reinforcement with different surface configurations (plain (P-BRC), sand-blasted (S-BRC), rope-wrapped (R-BRC), and V-shaped notched (V-BRC)) are used in the BRC beam specimens. These specimens were tested under both monotonic and repeated dynamic loading protocols to better evaluate the loading type effect on the behavior. Experimental load-midspan deflection and bending moment-curvature curves are given. Results from the tests demonstrate that bamboo reinforcement has increased the load-carrying capacity of unreinforced concrete beam by approximately 260 %. It can be concluded that BRC specimens are less ductile than SRC specimens (as expected) whereas bamboo with proper treatment can be used as reinforcement in which limited ductility is acceptable (e.g. non-seismic or low-seismic applications in low-rise residential housing).