Compressive Properties of Hawaiian Gold Timber Bamboo under Different Conditions

Abstract

With the current emphasis on environmental-friendliness and sustainability, natural fibre composites are starting to gain attentions from various industries to serve as alternative materials. However, not many elementary studies have been done on the mechanical properties of natural fibre composites. Therefore, this project will study on the compressive properties of bamboo, a type of natural fibre composite. The bamboo species used for this project is the Hawaiian Gold Timber Bamboo and this project will focus on three conditions of this bamboo species, which are dry bamboo, wet bamboo that have been immersed in distilled water at room temperature until it reaches enough saturation and boiled bamboo that have been immersed in boiled distilled water for 2 hours. The compressive properties of these three bamboo conditions will be compared to study the effects due to different conditions. Immersing the bamboo in distilled water allows water absorption while boiling it will accelerate the aging process of bamboo. From the tests, it is found that boiling the bamboo specimens has drastic effects on their compressive properties compared to dry bamboo specimens. But, the effects are not as drastic on the compressive properties of wet bamboo specimens. Nevertheless, the compressive strength of this Hawaiian Gold Timber bamboo is considered tough as it is comparable with other conventional materials such as granite and concrete at its maximum and minimum ultimate compressive stress respectively and could be enhanced by hybridized it with other conventional composite materials.