Design and Mechanical Tests of Bamboo Masts

Abstract:

Bamboos are smart natural tubes and a resistant material. Many species can be selected with 10 cm basal diameter, 12 m high and approximately straight longitudinal axis. A slender element like that has a relatively low load capacity under compression force. This limitation can be by passed through a composition of bamboo and cables. Through coherent design, this composition may produce an aesthetical and light mast with high axial compression resistance. This hybrid structure opens a big application for bamboo tubes, as for example, masts for the modern tents, known as tensile structures in the low weight architecture. Different compositions which use a large number of bamboos can be derived from this one. So, the mast mechanical performance investigation opens the way for another more complex systems understanding. In this paper, the design of a bamboo mast with 6 meters long is developed. A previous numerical investigation through SAP 2000 v14 structural analysis software was used for mast design and project. Cables and accessories; length and connections of the bracings and others constructive details are investigated until the conquest of a well fitted mast. A non destructive compression mechanical test of the mast rotation free at ends was done. Loads, tension in cables and lateral displacements were gauged in real time. Test results and numerical analysis show that masts can support compression forces many times bigger than bamboo itself.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 517)
• Pages: 238-244
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.517.238
• Online since: June 2012
• Authors: Luis Eustáquio Moreira, Fernando José da Silva, Francisco Carlos Rodrigues
• Keywords: Analysis, Bamboo, Cable, Mast, Mechanical Test

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