Structural use of bamboo. Part 4: Element design equations

Author: Sebastian Kaminski, Andrew Lawrence, David Trujillo, Ian Feltham and Luis Felipe López

Date published

1 March 2017

Price

Standard: £9.95 + VAT
Members/Subscribers: Free

The Institution of Structural Engineers The Institution of Structural Engineers
Back to Previous

Structural use of bamboo. Part 4: Element design equations

Tag
Author
Sebastian Kaminski, Andrew Lawrence, David Trujillo, Ian Feltham and Luis Felipe López
Date published
1 March 2017
Price

Standard: £9.95 + VAT
Members/Subscribers: Free

The Structural Engineer
Author

Sebastian Kaminski, Andrew Lawrence, David Trujillo, Ian Feltham and Luis Felipe López

Citation

The Structural Engineer, Volume 95, Issue 3, 2017, Page(s) 24-27

Date published

1 March 2017

Author

Sebastian Kaminski, Andrew Lawrence, David Trujillo, Ian Feltham and Luis Felipe López

Citation

The Structural Engineer, Volume 95, Issue 3, 2017, Page(s) 24-27

Price

Standard: £9.95 + VAT
Members/Subscribers: Free

The fourth article proposes element design equations for typical loading conditions on a bamboo culm: flexure, shear, axial tension, axial compression and local bearing.

Synopsis

Bamboo is a strong, fast growing and very sustainable material, having been used structurally for thousands of years in many parts of the world. In modern times, it has the potential to be an aesthetically pleasing and cost competitive alternative to more conventional materials, such as timber, as demonstrated by some visually impressive recent structures.

This five-part technical series, aimed at both developed- and developing-world contexts, will bring together current knowledge and best practice on the structural use of bamboo.

This fourth article in the series proposes element design equations for typical loading conditions on a bamboo culm: flexure, shear, axial tension, axial compression and local bearing. The work draws on existing published bamboo and timber design codes, and sound engineering judgement.

Corrections
​1) This article was updated in November 2018 to correct Equation 16.

2) Equation 18 contains an error. In the second part of the equation, Nc should not be multiplied by a factor of 1.5.

Additional information

Format:
PDF
Pages:
24-27
Publisher:
The Institution of Structural Engineers

Tags

Structural use of bamboo Technical Issue 3

Related Resources & Events

The Structural Engineer
<h4>Structural use of bamboo. Part 3: Design values</h4>

Structural use of bamboo. Part 3: Design values

This third article offers an up-to-date guide for determining design values for bamboo elements.

Date – 1 December 2016
Author – Sebastian Kaminski, Andrew Lawrence, David Trujillo, Ian Feltham and Luis Felipe Lopez
Price – £9.95
The Structural Engineer
<h4>Structural use of bamboo. Part 2: Durability and preservation</h4>

Structural use of bamboo. Part 2: Durability and preservation

This second article presents the main causes of decay of bamboo and the different methods of protection and preservation available.

Date – 3 October 2016
Author – Sebastian Kaminski, Andrew Lawrence, David Trujillo and Charlotte King
Price – £9.95
The Structural Engineer
<h4>Structural use of bamboo. Part 1: Introduction to bamboo</h4>

Structural use of bamboo. Part 1: Introduction to bamboo

This first article provides an introduction to bamboo and the physical characteristics that are relevant to structural design.

Date – 1 August 2016
Author – Sebastian Kaminski, Andrew Lawrence and David Trujillo
Price – £9.95