Mechanical properties of bamboo and bamboo composites: a review

Abstract

This article discuses on the studies that have been done by previous researchers on the mechanical properties of bamboo. Nowadays, natural fibre composites have gained the attentions of many industries as alternative materials due to their various advantages such as sustainable, abundant, low cost and good specific strength. With the current emphasis on environmental friendliness and sustainability, natural fibre composites are more preferred over conventional fibre which is normally non-biodegradable. Bamboo is a type of natural fibre composites that are widely used in many industries such as in construction and furnishing. Hence, it is crucial to study the mechanical properties of bamboo to make sure it is safe for certain applications. However, there are many factors that determine the mechanical properties of bamboo such as species, age and so on. This journal compiles and reviews on some of the researches on the mechanical properties of pure bamboo and bamboo composites such as their tensile properties, compressive properties, impact strength and fracture toughness. The reviews include how the researchers set up their experiments, the bamboo species used and the results obtained. Since bamboo are constantly exposed to harsh environment such as rain and river, the effect of moisture/ water content on the mechanical properties of bamboo are also reviewed and it exposed that moisture content has drastic effect on the mechanical properties of bamboo.