Mechanical Properties and Flexural Behaviour of Bamboo-Reinforced Concrete Beams

Abstract

The construction industry urgently needs sustainable alternatives to conventional materials due to environmental concerns. Bamboo's quick growth and renewable qualities make it a promising choice for reinforcing concrete structures. Hence, the objective of this is to evaluate the mechanical properties and flexural behaviour of bamboo reinforced concrete (BRC) beams using appropriate standard methods. Results indicated that bamboo specimens without nodes exhibited better mechanical properties compared to those with nodes. Flexural tests revealed SRC beams retained 32% of load-carrying capacity after the first crack, while BRC beams retained 14%, and HYB-1 and HYB-2 beams retained 23% and 30%, respectively. The average flexural strength for BRC beams was 82.8% lower than SRC beams, while HYB-1 and HYB-2 showed reductions of 16.9% and 76.1%. The energy absorption capacity of HYB-1 beams was close to SRC beams, with only a 29.1% reduction. These findings suggest that hybrid configurations, particularly HYB-1, balance structural strength and sustainability.