Failure Behaviour of Semantan Bamboo Strips Loaded in Bending and Shear

In this study, the classification of modes of failure, the observation of microscopic failures and the mechanical properties of Semantan bamboo strips were investigated. Specimens were loaded in bending and shear parallel to grain. Specimens were taken from internodes and node parts in bottom, middle and top portions of bamboo culms. From the classification, different modes of failure occurred in different parts of Semantan bamboo culms loaded in bending and shear. From the microscopic observation, the failures occurred in both parenchyma and vascular bundles regions for all classified failure modes from all tests, except for Even Splitting Mode from shear. This mode exhibited failure in parenchyma only, without any failure in vascular bundles regions. The Maximum Stress (σml) values between failure modes for both tests were significantly different. Generally, anatomical behaviour at different culm’s parts had influenced the different modes of failure and microscopic failures of Semantan bamboo strips loaded in bending and shear.