This document provides information on bamboo construction. It discusses various bamboo species that are suitable for construction purposes in India, including their names, habitats, culm properties, flowering cycles, and common uses. It also outlines the advantages of bamboo as a construction material, how to protect bamboo through various treatment methods, and explores bamboo foundations and structural elements like walls, columns, and beams. Limitations of bamboo construction are also noted.

1. BAMBOO
CONSTRUCTION
By deepanker

2. INTRODUCTION…
ø Bamboohasbeeninwideusagesinceancienttimesasa low-costmaterialforhouses, bridgesetc.
ø Recentlystartedappearingindesignerhomesas flooring, wallingandpanelingmaterial
ø Isviewedasa materialpreferredonlyby thepooror fortemporaryconstructions
ø Unpopular in conventional construction due to low durability, lack of structural design data,
exclusionfrombuildingcodesetc.

3. Facts about bamboo
ø Bamboo is a perennial grass and not a tree as is
commonlyperceived.
ø 1450 species are found in diverse climates across the
world, however, not all of these are suitable for
construction.
ø One of the fastest growing plants on Earth. Its growth
raterangesfrom30cmto 1 m in24 hours.
ø The strongest part of a bamboo stalk is its node, where
branchingoccurs.
ø Bamboo has also long been used as scaffolding; the
practice has been banned in China for buildings over 6
storeys but is still in continuous use for skyscrapers in
HongKong.

4. advantages
ø Strength - Bamboo is an
extremely strong natural fibre, on par with
standard hardwoods, when cultivated,
harvested,preparedandstoredproperly.
ø Flexibility - Bamboo is highly flexible. During its
growth, it may be trained to grow in
unconventional shapes. After harvest, it may be
bent and utilized in archways and other curved
areas.
ø Earthquake-resistance - It has a great capacity
for shock absorption, which makes it
particularlyusefulinearthquake-proneareas.

5. advantages
ø Lightweight - Bamboo is extremely lightweight. Consequently, building with bamboo can be
accomplished faster with simple tools than building with other materials. Cranes and other heavy
machineryarerarelyrequired.
ø Cost-effective – Economical, especially in areas where it is cultivated and is readily available.
Transportingcostisalsomuchlesser.
ø Durability- As long-lastingasitswoodencorrelates,whenproperlyharvestedandmaintained.

6. How to protect bamboo…
UNTREATEDBAMBOO
ø Untreated bamboo has the following life spans in different
conditions
> Exposure to soilandatmosphere= 1-3years
> Undercover= 4-7years
> Veryfavourableconditions= 10-15years
ø Naturaldurabilityalsodependson thespeciesof thebamboo

7. How to protect bamboo…
BORAX– BORIC ACID PRESERVATIONTREATMENT
Depending on the diameter of the
bamboo, different sized drill bits,
attached to a long steel rod, are
used to drill into the centre of
the bamboo culms throughout
theirwholelength.
At the preservation treatment
pool, bamboo soaks in borax-
boric acid solution (1:1.4) for 2
days to allow the mineral to
penetrate all the nodes and
diaphragms.
Bamboo is removed and
stacked vertically so the
solution can drain and be
reused.

8. How to protect bamboo…
Preservative solution is recharged after four
cycles by adding water and the chemicals.
Preservation treatment costs a minimum
chargeof INR4.50perpole.
BORAX– BORIC ACID PRESERVATIONTREATMENT
Next, the bamboo poles are
left to bask in the sun
depending on the amount
of sunlight
The bamboo poles are left
to dry slowly in a cool, dry
place until they are used
forconstruction.

9. How to protect bamboo…
ø During the casting and curing of concrete,
reinforcingbamboo absorbswaterandexpands
ø The swellingof bamboopushestheconcreteaway
ø Then at the end of the curing period, the bamboo
loses the moisture and shrinks back almost to its
originaldimensionsleavingvoidsarounditself
ø The swelling and shrinkage of bamboo in concrete create a serious limitation in the use of bamboo as a
substituteforsteelinconcrete.
ø One effective treatment is the application of a thin layer of epoxy to the bamboo surface followed by a
coatingof finesand.

10. How to protect bamboo…
NEEMSEED OIL TREATMENT
ø Oil obtained from neem seeds can be used to improve water resistance and dimensional stability of
bambooculmsparticularlyat highoil-treatmenttemperature.
ø Bamboo samples soaked in hot neem seed oil at 60°C for 4 hours had better water resistance and
dimensional stabilitythansamplessoakedinoilat roomtemperaturefor24 hours.

11. Bamboo foundations
COMPOSITEBAMBOO-CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS
SinglePostFooting StripFooting

12. Bamboo foundations
BAMBOOPILES
ø Bamboo compacts soft soil, thus
increasingthebearingcapacityof soil.
ø The friction provided by the construction-
grade bamboo increases its load-bearing
capacity.
ø Treated split bamboo piles 8m long and
80 to 90mm in diameter were filled with
coconutcoirstrandswrappedwithjute.
A sustainable house in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala where
bamboo piles have been used as foundation . The foundation is
furtherstrengthenedby bamboo reinforcedconcrete.

13. Bamboo foundations
BAMBOOPILES
ø The sections were then
tied with galvanised iron
wire. After installation of
the piles @2m c/c by drop
hammer, the area is
covered with a 2.5m
surcharge of sandy
material.

14. Bamboo WALLS
WOVEN BAMBOO
WALL
VERTICALHALVED
CULMS
BAJAREQUE
WHOLEBAMBOO
CULMS WATTLEANDDAUB

15. RESISTANCE TO EARTHQUAKES
ø High residual strength to absorb shocks and
impacts.
ø Flexurecoupledwithitsverylowmass.
ø Prototype house built with bamboo sheet roofing
and bamboo-reinforced concrete walls withstood a
simulated earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter
scale
ø A bamboo house in Bhutan that withstood an
earthquake that occurred at Sikkim (epicenter)
measuring6.9inSeptember2011
ø 30 houses at the epicenter of a 7.6 magnitude
earthquake survived without any damage in
CostaRicain1991

16. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Property Value
Density 0.5 – 0.9 gm/cc
Compressive Strength 53 – 100 MPa
Tensile Strength 111 – 219 MPa
Bending Strength 86 – 229 MPa
Bending Elasticity 6882 – 20890 MPa

17. bamboo column AND BEAM
Bamboo Reinforced Column Bamboo Beams

18. Comparative analysis
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Rate of construction per sq.foot in INR
Concrete

19. Comparative analysis
0
2
4
6
8
Concrete structure Wood structure Bamboo structure
Energy consumptionduringconstruction

20. Limitations and drawbacks
Fewconsiderationscurrentlylimittheuseof bambooasa universallyapplicableconstructionmaterial
ø Jointing techniques - Although many traditional joint types exist, their structural efficiency is low.
Considerableresearchhasbeendirectedat thedevelopmentof moreeffectivemethods.
ø Flammability - Bamboo structures are not fire-resistant, and the cost of treatment, where available, is
relativelyhigh.
ø Lack of design guidance and codification - The engineering design of bamboo structures has not yet
beenfullyaddressed.Thereis littleor no datacontainingspecificationsof bamboo.

21. Species of bamboos (preferable for
construction) in india
• Bambusa nutans
• Dendrocalamus brandisii
• Oxytenanthera stocksii
• Melocanna bambusoides
• Dendrocalamus strictus
• Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
• Dendrocalamus giganteus
• Bambusa bambos
• Bambusa polymorpha
• Bambusa balcooa

22. Bambusa nutans
• Local names
Bidhuli, Mukia ASSAM . Malla UTTAR PRADESH . Mallo, Mahi bans SIKKIM:
LEPCHA . Badia bansa ORISSA . Kali, Beng, Makla TRIPURA
• Habitat & distribution
Grows best at altitudes of between 500-1500 m. Thrives on moist hill slopes
and flat uplands, and well-drained sandy loam to clayey loam soils.
Commonly found and cultivated in the North East, Orissa and Bengal.
• Culm
The culm is up to 20 m tall, dark green, loosely clumped, straight and
smooth.
• Flowering
Flowers gregariously at an interval of 35 years. Sporadic flowering is also
observed.
• Uses
House construction, basketry and craft.

23. Dendrocalamus brandisii
• Local names
Bulka BENGAL . Wanan MANIPUR
• Habitat & distribution
Primarily found in tropical forests.
Found in the Jiribam area of Manipur. Introduced into Coorg (Karnataka).
• Culm
The culm is up to 20 m tall, ashy grey to greenish-grey, and smooth.
• Flowering
Gregarious and sporadic.
• Uses
House construction and basketry, and to make han

24. Oxytenanthera stocksii
• Local names
Konda, Oor-shema KARNATAKA . Uyi, Mula KERALA . Chivari, Mes
MAHARASHTRA .
• Habitat & distribution
Typically grows from sea level to altitudes of 800 m. Confined and endemic
to southern peninsular India.
• Culm
The culm up to 10 m tall, straight at the top, yellowish green, erect.
• Flowering
Sporadic.
• Uses
Suited for construction purposes. Also used for making furniture, ladders
and supports.

25. Melocanna bambusoides
• Local names
Mautak MIZORAM . Tarai ASSAM: BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY . Arten ASSAM:
KARBI-ANGLONG . Muli BENGAL, TRIPURA, ASSAM: BARAK VALLEY . Watrai
MEGHALAYA: GARO HILLS . Moubi MANIPUR .Turiah NAGALAND
• Habitat & distribution
Found chiefly in the north - eastern part of the country. It grows best on
low hills and in undulating countryside.
• Culm
Culms arise singly from the rhizome at a distance.
• Flowering
Gregarious. Flowering cycle is about 40-44years.
• Uses
Used in the construction of houses and for making woven products. An
important source for paper pulp.

26. Dendrocalamus strictus
• Local names
Lathi bans NORTH AND CENTRAL INDIA . Kanka kara, Sandapa veduru
ANDHRA PRADESH . Karal BENGAL . Nakur bans, Kiri bidiru GUJARAT
. Kallanmula, Kurathimula, Korna KERALA . Narvel MAHARASHTRA . Salia
ORISSA . Kalmungil TAMIL NADU
• Habitat & distribution
Found normally at altitudes up to 1000 m, in dry, open deciduous forests.
Widely distributed, it is the most common bamboo in India.
• Culm
The culm is up to 10 m tall, erect but slightly arched at the top.
• Flowering
Flowering intervals are long (25-45 years).
• Uses
The culms are used as building material and for making furniture, mats,
basketry and implements.

27. Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
• Local names
Kako ASSAM . Fonay ASSAM: KARBI-ANGLONG . Pecha WEST BENGAL .
Tama WEST BENGAL: DARJEELING . Unep MANIPUR . Wanoke
MEGHALAYA: GARO HILLS . Pao SIKKIM: LEPCHA . Phulrua MIZORAM
•
Habitat & distribution
Occurs in fine-textured soil in semi-evergreen forests. Grows abundantly
and well in the North East and Himachal Pradesh.
• Culm
The culm is large, up to 30 m tall, dull green.
• Flowering
The flowering cycle is 30-40 years. commonly and periodically
• Uses
Used as edible shoot, for roofing and construction purposes.

28. Dendrocalamus giganteus
• Local names
Maipo ARUNACHAL PRADESH: KHAMTI , Worra ASSAM ,Maroobob
MANIPUR, Bhalo bans SIKKIM
• Habitat & distribution
Grows well in humid tropical and sub-tropical regions, in the North East,
West Bengal and Bihar.
• Culm
The culm is large, up to 30 m tall, dull green, with a waxy appearance
• Flowering
Sporadic. The flowering cycle is 40 years.
• Uses
Used for construction purposes and to make boat masts.

29. Bambusa bambos
• Local names
Kotoha ASSAM .Behor bans BENGAL . Illi, Mula, Pattill KERALA . Kanta bans
ORISSA . Nal bans PUNJAB . Saneibo MANIPUR Mungil TAMIL NADU . Bongu
veduru, Mulla veduru ANDHRA PRADESH
• Habitat & distribution
Attains the best growth in moist deciduous forests up to an altitude of 1000
metres. Prefers rich and moist soil, and thrives near perennial rivers and
valleys. Found almost throughout India, and is common in Central and South
India.
• Culm
The culm is up to 30 metres tall, cylindrical, dark green, erect, strong and
hollow.
• Flowering
Gregarious. Flowers at long intervals 40-60 years and the clump/plant dies
after flowering.
• Uses
It is used as raw material for pulp and paper, to make panel products and
handicrafts, and for thatching and roofing.

30. Bambusa polymorpha
• Local names
Jama betwa, Betwa ASSAM, WEST BENGAL . Narangi bans MADHYA
PRADESH . Bari TRIPURA
• Habitat & distribution
Prefers deep, fertile, well-drained loam and riverine alluvial soil.
Commonly found in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura. Also
occurs in other parts of the North East.
• Culm
The culm is up to 25 m tall, light green or white grey to greyish-green.
• Flowering
Gregarious as well as sporadic. Flowering cycle is 55-60 years.
• Uses
It is a bamboo with many uses - as edible shoot, in woven form for
handicrafts, and for house construction. It is also used for pulping.

31. Bambusa balcooa
• Local names
Bhaluka ASSAM . Balku bans WEST BENGAL . Boro bans NORTH BENGAL .
Wamnah, Beru MEGHALAYA: GARO HILLS . Barak TRIPURA
• Habitat & distribution
Occurs at altitudes of up to 600 m. Prefers heavy textured soil with good
drainage. A common homestead bamboo in North East India and West
Bengal. Also occurs in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal.
• Culm
The culm is up to 30 m tall, dark green and thick-walled.
• Flowering
Gregarious. The clump/plant dies after flowering without setting any seed.
The flowering cycle is 35-45 years.
• Uses
The most common use of this sturdy and strong bamboo is in house
construction. It is a good bamboo for scaffolding and ladders.