No abstract

Bamboo is a rapidly renewable material that is available globally and comparable in strength to modern structural materials. The widespread use of bamboo in construction is limited by the inherent variability in its geometric and mechanical properties, and the lack of standardisation. Engineered bamboo aims to reduce the variability of the natural material and is processed and manufactured into laminated composites. Although the composites have mechanical properties similar to other structural materials, the products are currently limited to architectural applications. A field of research on engineering bamboo is emerging with the aim to demonstrate and expand its use to structural applications. To summarise the state of the art, a review of published research is presented with the focus on two types of engineered bamboo: bamboo scrimber and laminated bamboo. The materials are compared with structural timber and laminated veneer lumber to demonstrate the potential applications and practical use.

h i g h l i g h t sMechanical characterisation of bleached and semi-caramelised laminated bamboo. Thermal treatment processing methods have an effect on the mechanical properties. Engineered bamboo has mechanical properties comparable to timber. a b s t r a c tEngineered bamboo is increasingly explored as a material with significant potential for structural applications. The material is comprised of raw bamboo processed into a laminated composite. Commercial methods vary due to the current primary use as an architectural surface material, with processing used to achieve different colours in the material. The present work investigates the effect of two types of processing methods, bleaching and caramelisation, to determine the effect on the mechanical properties. A comparison to other engineered bamboo and timber products is also presented. The results of the study indicate that processing does affect the mechanical properties of engineered bamboo products. Areas in need of further research are also identified for thermally treated bamboo to be used in structural applications.

In recent years, there has been a rapid rise in the development of engineered bamboo materials, which have the potential to play an important role as alternatives to conventional building materials. Despite the growing diversity of bamboo products available on the market, the international standardization of both bamboo products and their constituent elements is limited, and a lack of universal nomenclature is recognized as one of the main constraints on developing standards. Similar or identical terminology is used interchangeably to describe different bamboo elements, processes, or products across sectors and continents. In some cases, translated colloquial names are misleading and scientifically inaccurate, which forms a barrier to global collaboration and research, creates ambiguity, and potentially limits trade. The present work aims to address this gap by proposing a set of appropriate terms in English that accurately describe and differentiate between currently produced engineered bamboo products and their constituent elements, accompanied by parallel terms in Chinese and Spanish. From these, new categories of engineered bamboo building materials are proposed for the Harmonized System of product codes. This paper highlights current ambiguities and provides terminology together with clear definitions of the main primary elements, processing steps, and products.

The investigation of natural products for use in construction continues to grow to fulfil the need for sustainable and locally available materials. Bamboo, being globally available and rapidly renewable, is an example of such a material.Structural and engineered bamboo products are comparatively low-energy-intensive materials with structural properties sufficient for the demands of modern construction. However, the lack of appropriate building codes and standards is a barrier to engineers and architects in using the material. This paper describes the existing national and international codes and looks towards the future development of comprehensive standards directly analogous to those in use for timber.