Effect of Natural Weathering on the Mechanical Strength of Bamboo Bio-Concrete

Abstract

The search for solutions that reduce the environmental impact of construction has driven the development of new materials. Bio-concrete represents a significant advance, presenting itself as an alternative to traditional concrete. Recent studies point to durability in outdoor conditions as one of the main challenges in its application. This paper presents natural durability studies performed on bamboo bio-concrete, produced with a bamboo particle volume of 50%. A surface treatment of applying resin externally was tested to reduce water ingress during weathering. The bio-concretes were exposed to natural and outdoor weather conditions for twelve months, and meteorological records were collected during the study period. The effect and influence of the external resin was investigated using visual surface analysis, uniaxial compression, modulus of elasticity and scanning electron microscopy. In terms of visual aspects, the resin was not effective in preventing loss of gloss, while in terms of microstructure, these samples showed better adhesion between the bamboo particles in the matrix. The compressive strength showed significant reductions of 60% (stress) and 73% (Young’s modulus) after twelve months of weathering. External resin could improve microstructures from surfaces to internal portions and more effectively preserve the mechanical strength of bio-concrete.