Experimental investigation on physical and compressive properties of untreated and treated dendrocalamus asper and gigantochloa scortechinii bamboo under monotonic loading

Bamboo is a natural material having a fast reproduction and high mechanical strengths. However, when a bio-based material in general, and bamboo in particular are expected to be a construction material, their sensitivity to moisture and their durability are usually questionable. Indeed, it is well known that these materials do not possess the same performance in the long-term, when compared to industrial materials, especially for the treated bamboo. The present study explores the physical and compressive properties of the untreated and treated Dendrocalamus Asper and Gigantochloa Scortechinii bamboo species were investigated under applied monotonic loads. A sixmeter length of both species of bamboo poles were undergoing post-harvesting conventional treatment i.e., using combination of borax and boric acid. The bamboo culms were soaked horizontally for duration of 2 weeks which are effective against borers, termites and fungi. The physical properties tests of 36 samples and compression strength tests of 48 culm samples (i.e., top, medium and bottom) were conducted using Universal Tensile Machine (UTM) were according to the ISO 221571:2004. In particular, the compression test of untreated and treated bamboo culm samples were tested at location of node and internode under monotonic increasing uniaxial load. Notably, the results showed that the treated Dendrocalamus Asper bamboo experienced significant increment of compressive (i.e., 20%) and physical properties (i.e., 14% - 16%) of the bottom part of culms compared to Gigantochloa Scortechinii bamboo. The study proved that the treatment process could increase the compressive properties of treated specimens, compared to untreated bamboo. The influence of node on bamboo in adjusting the compressive properties of untreated and treated bamboo is also included.