Guadua Chacoensis en Bolivia

Guadua chacoensis in Bolivia
-an investigation of mechanical properties of a

bamboo species
Maria Lindholm
Sara Palm
December 5, 2007
Examiner: Stig-Inge Gustafsson

Supervisor: Kenneth Bringzén
Department of Management and Engineering

Centre for Wood Technology & Design
LIU-IEI-TEK-A--07/00256--SE
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-10372
ii
Sammanfattning
Detta examensarbetete har gjorts vid CTD- Centrum för Träteknik och De-
sign vid Linköpings universitet och har utförts i Santa Cruz de la Sierra i
Bolivia.
Syftet med detta examensarbete är att studera de mekaniska egenskaperna

och användningsområden för Guadua chacoensis, en boliviansk bambuart.
Genom historien har bambu använts i en mängd olika applikationer såsom
hus, verktyg, möbler, mat, bränsle, papper och land-rehabilitering. I de esta
asiatiska länder är bambu en viktig resurs för små- och medelstora företag
vilket skapar arbetstillfällen och motverkar fattigdom. I Sydamerika nns
många länder, däribland Bolivia, vilka har stora möjligheter att utnyttja
bambu på samma sätt. En av huvudidéerna med detta examensarbete är
att kunna gynna den bolivianska välfärden genom att belysa denna, hittills
outvecklade naturresurs.
Detta examensarbete är en Minor eld study, delvis nansierad av Sida,

styrelsen för internationellt utvecklingssamarbete. Under fältarbetet genom-
fördes teoretiska studier då internationell och inhemsk information om bambu,
speciellt om Guadua chacoensis, samlades in. Olika områden där arten växer
besöktes och hållfasthetstekniska tester genomfördes vid UPSA- Universidad
Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
Genom drag-, böj- och hårdhetsprovning har det påvisats att Guadua
chacoensis är ett böjligt och medelhårt material med en draghållfasthet som
är jämförbar med den för Europeisk ek. Detta gör att denna bambuart
lämpar sig bland annat för konstruktioner, såsom hus och broar, samt mö-
beltillverkning.
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iv
Abstract
This Master thesis has been performed at CTD- the Centre for Wood Tech-
nology and Design at the University of Linköping and has been carried out
in Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia.
The objective of this thesis is to study the mechanical properties and

uses of Guadua chacoensis, a bamboo native to Bolivia. Throughout history,
bamboo has been used in many countries for a variety of purposes. In Asia
bamboo is an important raw-material for buildings and furniture. It is also
used for making paper and for land rehabilitation and fuel. In South America
many countries, among them Bolivia, have great potential to use bamboo in
the same way. One of the key ideas with this Master thesis is to make a
contribution to support the Bolivian economy and welfare by elucidate this,
hitherto undeveloped, natural resource.
This thesis is a Minor eld study partly nanced by Sida- the Swedish
International Development Cooperation Agency. During the eld study the-
oretical studies were made, collecting local and international information
about bamboo and Guadua chacoensis in particular. Laboratory tests were
prepared and conducted at UPSA- the Private University of Santa Cruz de
la Sierra and several localities of the plant were visited.
Through tensile-, bending- and hardness test it is found that Guadua

chacoensis is a exible, medium soft material and is comparable with Euro-
pean oak when it comes to the tensile strength. This leads to the conclusion
that this bamboo species, among other elds of applications, can be used for
constructions, like houses and bridges, and furniture manufacturing.
v
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Acknowledgements
The idea of doing this Master thesis was established in October 2006 which
makes this a slightly more than one year long project. During this time sev-
eral people have crossed our paths and contributed to our work in dierent
ways.
We would like to thank our examiner Stig-Inge Gustafsson and our super-
visor Kenneth Bringzén at the University of Linköping. We deeply appreciate
their support and great interest in our work throughout the whole project.
Furthermore we would like to thank Per Larsson and Stig Algstrand, also
at the University of Linköping, for helping us to nd the right contacts in
Bolivia and Kerstin Johansen at CTD, who proofread the thesis. Special
thanks is directed to Per Larsson that helped us arrange the nancing of our
stay in Bolivia.
Our gratefulness also goes to Gabriella A. Pinaya Johannessen at Cadefor,

Santa Cruz that at all times was ready to answer questions and supported
us during our stay in Bolivia. In addition, our thanks go to Gastón Mejia,
Jorge Zeballos and Gustavo Quinteros at UPSA- the Private university of
Santa Cruz de la Sierra that helped us with the laboratory tests.
Our deepest gratitude goes to our fellow worker and dear friend Luis Fer-
nando Ortiz, who's help in Santa Cruz was inestimable. His broad knowledge
of bamboo and his useful contacts were very valuable. Thanks to him our
work and stay in Bolivia could not have been better. We will never forget
our investigation trips and the hanging-out together!
We would also like to thank Sida, Ansgarius-stiftelsen and Sparbanksstif-

telsen Alfa whose scholarships nanced our project. It would not have been
possible to carry out the Master thesis in Bolivia without their economic
support.
vii
Finally, we would like to thank everyone that made our time in Bolivia
to an enriching and moving stay. Our time in Bolivia was an adventure and
we will treasure the memories from this journey forever.
viii
Preface
During autumn 2006 the idea of going to Bolivia to do our Master thesis was
arised. The possibility to do a Minor eld study in a developing country -
nanced by Sida, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency,
lead to the decision of realizing this idea. The Minor eld study scholarship
nance the expenses during an eight week study in a developing country
with the purpose to increase understanding of Swedish development work in
countries all around the world. The fact that the University of Linköping
during several years has been cooperating with UPSA- the Private Univer-
sity of Santa Cruz de la Sierra lead to the choice to place our study in Santa
Cruz. Santa Cruz is Bolivia's biggest city located in the east of the country,
in the Tropical Amazon region.
We hope that the readers will nd the results of our endeavours, to gain a
little bit of knowledge about this remarkable plant, bamboo, interesting and
that the qualities of this versatile material will be appreciated.
ix
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Contents
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Objective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3 Thesis Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4 Reading Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2 Bamboo -a Woody Grass 5

2.1 Brief Bamboo History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2 The Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.2.1 Rhizomes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.2.2 Groves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.2.3 Roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.2.4 Culms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.2.5 Nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.2.6 Branches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.2.7 Leaves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.2.8 Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.2.9 Seedling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.2.10 Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.2.11 Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.3 World Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2.4 Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2.4.1 Sympodial Bamboos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
2.4.2 Monopodial Bamboos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.5 Cultivation, Curing and Harvesting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.5.1 Cultivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.5.2 Curing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.5.3 Harvesting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.5.4 Insects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2.6 Anatomy and Mechanical Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
2.6.1 Anatomical Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
xi
2.6.2 Mechanical Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2.7 Renement Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2.7.1 Drying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2.7.2 Cutting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
2.7.3 Splitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
2.7.4 Bending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
2.7.5 Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
2.7.6 Laminating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
2.7.7 Surface Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
2.8 World Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
2.9 Bamboo Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
2.9.1 Constructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
2.9.2 Buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2.9.3 Plybamboo, Laminate and Furniture . . . . . . . . . . 30
2.9.4 Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
2.9.5 Ecomaterial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
2.9.6 Other Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
2.9.7 Recently Developed Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
3 Method and Performance 35

3.1 Research Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
3.2 Pre-Study Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
3.2.1 Brainstorming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
3.2.2 Mind Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
3.3 Evaluation of Possible Working Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
3.4 Delimitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
3.5 The Field Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
3.6 Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
3.7 The Quality of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
3.7.1 Validity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
3.7.2 Reliability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4 Bamboo in Bolivia 41
4.1 Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4.2 Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
4.3 Bamboo Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
4.3.1 Forestal Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
4.4 Bamboo Uses in Bolivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
4.4.1 Historical Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
4.4.2 Modern Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
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5 Guadua Chacoensis 49
5.1 The Spicies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
5.2 Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
5.3 Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
5.4 Mechanical Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
6 Laboratory Tests of Guadua Chacoensis 53

6.1 Laboratory Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
6.1.1 Tensile test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
6.1.2 Bending test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
6.1.3 Hardness test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
6.1.4 Specimens Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
6.2 Results of the Mechanical Properties Tests . . . . . . . . . . . 56
6.2.1 Tensile Test Parallel to Fibre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
6.2.2 Bending Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
6.2.3 Hardness Test Perpendicular to Fibre . . . . . . . . . . 57
7 Analysis 63
7.1 Laboratory Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
7.1.1 Tensile Test Parallel to Fibre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
7.1.2 Bending Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
7.1.3 Hardness Test Perpendicular to Fibres . . . . . . . . . 65
7.2 SWOT-Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
7.2.1 Strengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
7.2.2 Weaknesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
7.2.3 Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
7.2.4 Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
7.3 Possibilities for Guadua Chacoensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
8 Conclusions and Recommendations 71
9 Reections 73
9.1 Planning of the Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
9.2 Final Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
9.3 Further Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
A Glossary 81
B German Abstract 85
C Spanish Abstract 87
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D Results Tensile test Parallel to Fiber 89
D.1 Lower Parts of Culms - A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
D.2 Upper Parts of Culm - B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
E Results Bending Test 101

F Results Hardness Test Perpendicular to Fiber 107
F.1 Lower Parts of Culm - A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
F.2 Upper Parts of Culm - B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
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List of Figures
2.1 Rhizomes of a sympodial bamboo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2.2 Internode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.3 Node . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.4 Branches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.5 Mature culm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.6 World distribution of bamboo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2.7 White, blue and black bamboo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
2.8 Microscope picture of Guadua chacoensis . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
2.9 Drying bamboo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
2.10 Bamboo joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
2.11 Dierent types of laminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
2.12 Bamboo fence in Bolivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
2.13 Veranda made of bamboo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
2.14 Ford and chrysler cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
2.15 Eco-friendly laptop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
2.16 Artek bamboo table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
3.1 Mind map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
4.1 Bolivia's main bamboo growing regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

4.2 Reinforced housewall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
4.3 Sun protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
4.4 Family house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
4.5 Restaurant complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
5.1 Culms of Guadua chacoensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

5.2 Transversal cut of Guadua chacoensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
5.3 Guadua chacoensis chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
6.1 Mechanical properties testing machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

6.2 Schematic gure over the tested specimens . . . . . . . . . . . 55
6.3 Tensile test specimen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
xv
D.1 Diagram of tensile test 1A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
D.6 Diagram of tensile test 1B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
E.1 Diagram of bending test 1-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

E.2 Diagram of bending test 6-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
E.3 Diagram of bending test 10-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
F.1 Diagram of hardness test 1A I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

F.2 Diagram of hardness test 1A II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
F.11 Diagram of hardness test 1B I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
F.12 Diagram of hardness test 1B II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
xvi
List of Tables
2.1 Mechanical properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.1 Result of tensile test part A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

6.2 Result of tensile test part B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
6.3 Results of bending test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
6.4 Results of hardness test part A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
6.5 Results of hardness test part B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
7.1 Table for comparison of tensile properties. . . . . . . . . . . . 64

7.2 Table for comparison of bending properties. . . . . . . . . . . 65
7.3 Table for comparison of hardness properties. . . . . . . . . . . 66
7.4 SWOT-analysis of Guadua chacoensis in Bolivia. . . . . . . . . 67
D.1 Dimensions of specimens 1A tensile test. . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

D.2 Result of tensile test 1A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
D.11 Dimensions of specimens 1B tensile test. . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
D.12 Result of tensile test 1B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
xvii
E.1 Dimensions of specimens bending test 1-5. . . . . . . . . . . . 102

E.2 Result of bending test 1-5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
E.3 Dimensions of specimens bending test 6-9. . . . . . . . . . . . 103
E.4 Result of bending test 6-9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
E.5 Dimensions of specimens bending test 10-13. . . . . . . . . . . 104
E.6 Result of bending test 10-13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
F.1 Result of hardness test 1A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

F.5 Result of hardness test 7.A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
F.6 Result of hardness test 1B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
xviii
Chapter 1
Introduction
The following chapter introduces the reader to the Master thesis, its back-
ground, objective and structure. Some advice for the reader is also given to
facilitate the reading of the thesis.
1.1 Background
Throughout history, bamboo has been used in many countries for a variety
of purposes. In Asia bamboo is an important raw-material for buildings and
furniture. It is also used for making paper and for land rehabilitation and
fuel. In South America bamboo grows in abundance but the bamboo in-
dustry in these countries is not as developed as in Asian countries. Hence,
Bolivia has great possibilities to develop the country's bamboo industry. One
of the key ideas with this Master thesis is to make a contribution to support
the Bolivian economy and welfare by elucidate this, hitherto undeveloped,
natural resource.
Innovation and research are leading to development of new modern uses

with large potential markets for this environmentally friendly material. A
number of new technologies have been developed that enable the substitution
of bamboo for wood in a large number of applications, one of those the man-
ufacturing of bamboo laminates. The Bolivian wood industry is relatively
well developed but the renement of bamboo has been neglected which makes
this a potential business opportunity.
During several years the University of Linköping has been cooperating

with UPSA and this opened a possibility to do the Master thesis in Bo-
livia. During the eld work in Santa Cruz the authors were stationed at
1
Cadefor- Amazonic Center for Sustainable Forest Enterprise, a service-based
non-prot organization. Hopefully this Master thesis will make a contribu-
tion to the bamboo industry in Bolivia by means of illuminating the potential
business opportunity of this versatile material.
1.2 Objective
The objective of this thesis is to study the mechanical properties of Guadua
chacoensis, one of the bamboo species that grows in Bolivia. The uses of
Guadua chacoensis will briey be studied to analyze the possibility to diver-
sify the elds of application of this bamboo in Bolivia. The Master thesis is
intended to contribute to the development of the bamboo business area in
Bolivia, serving as an aid for the country's bamboo research-work and further
expansion of its bamboo industry.
1.3 Thesis Structure

Presented below is the structure of the thesis and a brief description of the
contents in each chapter.
• Chapter one, Introduction, is a short description of the thesis and its

objective.
• Chapter two, Bamboo -a Woody Grass, contains facts and theories

concerning bamboo. The chapter is divided into Brief History, The
Plant, Anatomy and Mechanical Properties, Renement Techniques
and Uses.
• Chapter three, Method and Performance, describes the Research Ap-

proach, the Pre-study Phase and the Field Study. The thesis limitations
are set and nally the quality of the thesis is discussed.
• Chapter four, Bamboo in Bolivia, introduces the reader to bamboo in

Bolivia today; where it grows, species and uses.
• Chapter ve, Guadua Chacoensis, contains facts about the species, for
example its distribution, mechanical properties and uses.
• Chapter six, Laboratory Tests of Guadua Chacoensis, describes the lab-

oratory tests conducted at UPSA. The results of the tests are presented
to be further analyzed in Chapter seven.
2
• Chapter seven, Analysis, contains the analysis of the laboratory tests.
The results given by the laboratorys are compared with corresponding
fugures for some Swedish woods.
• Chapter eight, Conclusions and Recommendations, after the analysis

some conclusions and recomendations regarding the mechanical prop-
erties of Guadua chacoensis and its uses are given.
• Chapter nine, Reections, presents the authors reections about the

results, the eld study and the thesis writing.
The nine chapters are followed by a Bibliography and Appendices.
1.4 Reading Instructions

To facilitate the reading of the thesis report a glossary is attached in Ap-
pendix A, which contains words and vocabulary used throughout the thesis
report. Mostly this is technical vocabulary concerning bamboo and its char-
acteristics. In Appendices B and C the reader will nd abstracts of the thesis
content in German and Spanish.
For the reader who wants a quick overview of the thesis is the Abstract
combined with the Introduction and Conclusions and Recommendations sug-
gested. The frame of reference in Chapter 2 is written to introduce the reader
to the bamboo plant and can be disregarded by those readers already familiar
to the plant. The work carried through in the studies of this Master thesis
is described from Chapter 3 and forward.
In the bibliography, the references are sorted alphabetically in the follow-

ing groups: reference number [1]-[6] are books, [7]-[19] academic articles, [20]-
[23] master thesises, [24]-[26] technical reports, [27]-[42] electronical sources
and [43]-[44] verbal sources. The references in the text are given in brackets;
before the punctuation if it has reference to the single sentence and after the
punctuation if it concerns the whole section.
All tables and gures without specic references are made by the authors.
3
4
Chapter 2
Bamboo -a Woody Grass
In the following chapter a frame of reference will be presented in order to cre-

ate theoretical understanding of the bamboo plant and bamboo as a material.
First an overview of the bamboo history is made to introduce the reader to
the principal subject of the thesis. After that, the chapter will describe the
bamboo plant and its physical- and mechanical properties followed by rene-
ment techniques and bamboo uses. The theories in this chapter are chosen
to cover many aspects of the subject eld of this study. The authors have
chosen a rather broad frame of references to be able to properly introduce
this multifaceted plant and material to the reader.
2.1 Brief Bamboo History

No bamboo fossils have been found and it is unknown for how long bamboo
has been growing on the planet. The bamboo plant is one of the most
primitive grasses and there are species that are believed to be more than
sixty million years old. Bamboo has played an important role for humanity
and will probably continuing doing so in the future. The name bamboo has
in dierent countries shows the importance of the plant. Bamboo is named
the "the wood of the poor" in India, "the friend of the people" in China and
"the brother" in Vietnam.[3]
Bamboo is a plant that plays an important role in the daily life

of about 2.2 billion people [41].
Many Asian cultures believe that humanity originate from a bamboo

stem. The Philippine creation myth tells that after a great battle between the
elementary forces, the rst man and women aroused from a bamboo culm.
There is a similar legend in Malaysia, which tells about a man who sleeps
5
under a bamboo grove and has a dream about a beautiful woman. When the
man wakes up and splits a bamboo culm he nds the women from the dream
inside.[39]
Farelly[3], tells about one of the most amazing stories in the bamboo
history; when a grove of bamboo survived in the very epicenter of the rst
atomic bomb in the city of Hiroshima. This was the only living thing close to
the epicenter that held out the blast. Today a portion of this bamboo grove
can be seen in the Memorial Museum for Peace, which is built at the same
place where the plants once grew.
2.2 The Plant

Bamboo is the general name for members of a particular group of large woody
grasses. There exists approximately 1 250 species of bamboo and those are
divided into 75 groups. Most bamboos are fast-growing and reach maturity
in ve years but owers very seldom. There are species of dwarf bamboo that
can be as small as 10 centimetres high, but tall species can reach up to 15-20
metres. The largest known bamboo species Dendrocalamus giganteus is, fully
mature, 40 metres high and has a culm diameter of 30 centimetres.[16]
2.2.1 Rhizomes
Bamboo plants are divided into sympodial (tropical) and monopodial (tem-
perate) species, depending on the type of root-system, also called rhizomes,
they possess [3]. The rhizomes are very important in the bamboos since they
control when the culms develop and how they spread [17].
The sympodial bamboos have thick and short rhizomes, see Figure 2.1,
and their culms grow in groups, which shape is decided from how the rhizomes
spread under ground. The rhizomes of the monopodial bamboos are long with
symmetrical internodes that are longer then they are broad. The rhizomes
produce new culms and new rhizomes for up to ten years.[3] Thanks to the
underground growth of the rhizomes, and the system they create in the top
layer of the soil, bamboo is a great resource for soil preservation, erosion
control and protection against earthquakes [21]. A healthy and still fertile
rhizome is yellow-ivory coloured and has nodes from which the culms of
the plant rise from. In the nodes of the rhizome nutrients are stored to be
distributed to the most active part of new growth in the bamboo grove.[3]
6
Figure 2.1: Rhizomes of a sympodial bamboo [37].
2.2.2 Groves
Each individual bamboo culm is often referred to as a single isolated plant.
The truth is that each culm is a branch of an underground system of growth.
The culms grow up from the rhizomes and all culms in a grove are thereby
connected through the rhizomes. Each culm collects nutrient and liquid
which is stored mutually in the rhizomes. The form of the bamboo grove
depends on how the rhizomes grow below ground. The monopodial species
is characterized by free-standing culms while the sympodial bamboos grow
in thight clumps.[3]
2.2.3 Roots
Bamboo roots are the only part of the plant that do not grow in segments
of nodes and internodes. The roots are thin and brous with a cylindrical
shape. The diameter of the roots does not change when the bamboo gets
older. The roots can be up to one meter long and one centimetre thick.[3]
Many bamboo species wear small roots on the culm, above ground. These
roots are fading in the direction of the top of the plant. Those aerial roots
are predicting the possibility that the culm will be felled by a storm or other
falling plants. If this would happen, the roots will establish new culms and
rhizomes at the nodes of the fallen culm.[3]
2.2.4 Culms
Depending on the species, soil, age of stand and climate the growth of the
bamboo culm varies very much. Larger species can grow between 7 to 40
7
centimetres a day. The documented growth-record is 120 centimetres in
one 24-hour period and comes from Japan.[3] A mature culm can be from
ten centimetres to 40 metres high [14]. The growth of the culm does not
only depend on the climate and the soil where the bamboo grows. The
maturity of the bamboo grove also inuences. When a maximum stature
and productivity for each species is reached, the culms do not grow taller or
thicker. The normal lifetime of a culm is ve to ten years but some species
grow culms with an age of twenty years. The bamboo culm is erect and very
often the tip is nodding much or slightly.[3]
2.2.5 Nodes
The node is the part of the culm from where the branches grow out [21].
The nodes makes possible a greater exibility and strength of the culm [20],
and through their solid cross wall they provide the transversal connection,
see Figure 2.2, between the internodes of the bamboo [6].
Figure 2.2: A split internode.
The nodes of the bamboo are very important for the growth and function
of the culm. The nodes enable the necessary cross-transport of water and
nutrients in the plant. The nodal structure also aect the transportation
8
of liquid during drying and conservation and inuence many physical and
mechanical properties.[6]
The visible nodal ridge, see Figure 2.3, is created by cell dierentiation by
some cells that are compressed when a new shoot of the bamboo is emerging.
When a shoot is raising the cortex is compressed by the upper portion of the
new shoot and forced outwards. The morphology of the nodes varies greatly
between dierent species.[6]
Figure 2.3: A node from a young bamboo culm.
2.2.6 Branches
Most species are branching at all nodes when they are pre-mature. Various
species of Guadua, a South American bamboo, have thorns that can shred
and cause severe damage to cloth or skin. When the culm is mature it does
not wear branches at the lower nodes. Normally, the branches appear just
above the nodes at alternate sides of the culm, see Figure 2.4. Like the culm
itself, the branches also have nodes and the branch nodes nearest the culm
is often covered with small aerial roots.[3]
9
Figure 2.4: Bamboo branches.
2.2.7 Leaves
The size of the leaves of the bamboo plant varies greatly, from tiny to enor-
mous [3]. According to Flores[20], there are two types of bamboo leaves:
Caulinary: These are the leaves that cover the culm from its birth until
it reaches maturity. They have a brownish colour and are provided with small
u as a defense system. These leaves protect the culm during its growth,
embracing it until they fall of when the culm has reached maturity and the
branches starts to grow out.
10
Ramifying: The coating of the ramifying leaves is ribbed and has vains
that stretches out from the center of the leaf. These leaves are green and the
amount of sunlight they absorb decide how much water the plant take up,
when it owers, when it matures and dries.
The leaf fall of many bamboo species often equals, in weight, the growth of
new culms during the same year. The leaves of a bamboo fall o progressively
and are replaced by new fresh leaves.[3]
2.2.8 Flowers
Most bamboos almost never ower. The normal is once in a period from
15 to 100 years [5]. The owering cycle of bamboos is much disputed and
very mysterious since it is very hard to study [3]. The owering pattern of
bamboos is gregarious, that is; all bamboos of the same species growing all
over the planet, ower at the same time [20]. Gregarious owering can take
place over small or enormous areas. Cases have been documented when the
blooming started in one area and spread, taking a few years to cover the
entire owering zone. The Gregarious owering can sometimes continue for
as long as from ve to fteen years. Most species die after owering.[3]
During owering, the bamboo stops growing and all the energy of the
plant is used for making tiny owers [3]. The ower is very small and looks
like an orchid. Its colour depends on the soil where the bamboo grows and
it has a very short life, approximately 48 hours.[20]
Since the bamboos ower so rarely, the phenomenon has been very poorly
researched. In 1912 an investigation was carried out in Tokyo. Some seeds
were sown but non of the bamboo plants, that emerged then, has owered
yet.[3]
2.2.9 Seedling
A bamboo seed is very similar to a wheat grain in size and shape. When
germinating, the seedling rst develops a primary root and a primary culm.
The root is the rst to emerge and through cell division the culm follows.
When cells grow longer in the zones of growth, the culm elongates like a tele-
scope that opens up. When several culms have grown up, the rhizomes start
to develop. When a seedling has developed a rhizome, it has the complete
structure of a mature plant. The shape of the rhizome will transform during
the maturation of the bamboo.[3]
11
2.2.10 Growth
The largest reserve of bamboo grows in natural forests, which is the pri-
mary habitat of bamboo. Bamboo also rise in plantations and homesteads
in many parts of the world.[5] The sympodial bamboos are quite sensitive
to frost since they are tropical species. The culms of the sympodial bam-
boos normally grow from summer to autumn or at the beginning of the rainy
season. The increment of the plant is controlled by the levels of moisture
in the soil. In warm areas with frequent rainfall during the whole year, the
sympodial bamboo can continue to grow all year around. The monopodial
species can suer a colder climate than the sympodial ones. A monopodial
bamboo can survive in temperatures around minus 20 degrees Celsius [12],
and live in areas with mild winters without severe snowfall. The shooting
of the monopodial species is controlled by temperature, which makes them
sprout in springtime. After a bamboo has completed is growth, wich takes
80 to 120 days for a sympodial bamboo and about 60 days for a monopo-
dial one, the culm hardens and matures but the height and diameter of the
culm do not change. Some species grow faster during night, sometimes up to
two to three times the growth by day, but other species grow faster during
daytime.[3] According to Medrano[23], a Guadua bamboo can be said to have
four stages of maturity:
Young culm: This phase is initiated by the growth of both primary and
secondary branches. The culm is not yet so hard and has a clean surface.
The coloring of the internodes is intense green and the nodes are white.
Premature culm: This stage of maturity is characterized by the fading

luster of the culm and the emerging presence of fungus on it. The culm has
normally reached an age of two or three years at this stage and has a high
level of resistance.
Mature culm: This is the maturity stage, see Figure 2.5, when the
whole culm is covered by fungus and the nodes in some places covered by
moss. The mature phase normally continues for one year and during this
period the culm starts to dry.
Over mature culm: The over mature bamboo has lost all its humidity
and there is very little or non physiological activity in the culm, that at this
stage has turned yellow. The culm has lost up to 80 percent of its resistance
at this stage and starts to loose the protecting sheaths that covers the culm
and branches.
12
Figure 2.5: Mature culm.
2.2.11 Environment
Janssen[5], writes about studies made 1990 by Billing and Gerger, who clas-
sied the impacts of bamboo on the environment. The results of the study
were that the bamboo has many positive impacts on the environment, some
of them are:
• Erosion. Bamboo grows fast, and in a short time develops

an extended root system, supporting the soil and prevent-
ing it from being washed away by heavy rains. The dense
roof of branches and leaves protects the ground from forceful
13
tropical rains. Bamboo is a lightweight material, without a
need for heavy machinery for felling and transportation.
• Physical soil structure. The root system loosens up the soil,
which was made hard and compact by exposure, machin-
ery and cattle. The leaf roof protects the soil from further
exposure.
• Ground water level. Bamboo consumes water, but this is
more than compensated by the reduced evaporation created
by the leaf roof, and by the layer of fallen leaves. Owing
to the increased permeability of the soil, water run-o is re-
duced, allowing more water to penetrate the soil and thereby
more water remain in the area.
• Soil fertility. This is improved by protecting the soil from
exposure and by the falling leaves providing organic mate-
rial.
• Drainage by the root system and the layer of fallen leaves.
• Micro and local climate. The bamboo plant is a helping
factor for stabilization of humidity and temperature.
• Feeding area and habitat for fauna. Bamboo provides a rich
environment for insects, birds and some mammals.
In the study one minor negative impact was found:
• Bamboo Guadua is found to have a slight negative eect on

the pH-level.
2.3 World Distribution

Bamboo has a broad weather tolerance which leads to a rather extensive
distribution of the plant. Bamboo can live in areas with temperature ranges
from minus 4 degrees Celsius to plus 47 degrees Celsius, rainfall extremes
from 762 millimetres to 6 350 millimetres per year, from sea level to 3 658
metres in altitude and from 46 degrees north and 47 degrees south in lati-
tude, see Figure 2.6.[3]
Bamboo grows naturally in North and South America, Africa, Asia, Aus-
tralia and has recently been introduced to Europe as well. Asia has an old
tradition to use and rene bamboo. The countries with the largest area,
where bamboo is growing, are China, India, Bangladesh, Philippines and
14
Thailand. In 2003 the total world bamboo forest area was more than 22
million hectares.[14]
Moisture is a determining factor for the growth of bamboo and the plant
is mostly found along waterways, rice paddies or in the tropical forests and
jungles and never in dry places.[3]
Figure 2.6: World distribution of bamboo [31].
2.4 Species
The classication of plants in genetic groups and families was made by Lin-
naeus (1707-1778). The classication is mainly based on the reproductive
structures of the plants, but since many bamboo species bloom so rarely,
it is very dicult to give an exact dierentiation of its species. Bamboos
have been treated as a separate family of plant by some botanists and as a
subfamily of grasses by others. The correct classication of the whole group
is therefore uncertain.
Since 1789, when the rst bamboo genus, Bambusa, was described, seventy-
ve generic names and more than one thousand specic names have been
published. Each species has a need of a various type of soil and climate and
has dierent physical properties. This makes dierent species suitable for
15
dierent elds of applications.[3]
The size and colour varies broadly between the species. Most bamboo
species have green culms, but they can also be yellow, black, red, blue and
white, see Figure 2.7. There are also canes with stripes. The blueness of
the blue bamboo culms is often a product of new bloom powder on the new
culms. When these culms come to maturity the blue colour may turn into
dierent shades of green. An example of a white bamboo is Bambusa chungii.
It got its name because the new shoots are covered in a lot of powder so that
they appear white. One example of a black coloured bamboo is Bambusa
lako. It is a sympodial bamboo with an upright and vertical prole.[40]
Figure 2.7: White, blue and black bamboo [40].
2.4.1 Sympodial Bamboos

The bamboo species can, according to Farrelly[3], broadly be divided into
sympodial (tropical) and monopodial (temperate) species.
Three well known sympodial bamboos are:
Bambusa vulgaris: The Bambusa vulgaris is the world's most widely dis-
tributed bamboo and grows in many dierent type of soil and can stand
various types of weather.[3]
Bambusa textiles: The Bambusa textiles has extremely strong bres which
makes it convenient for ne splitting and weaving. This makes this species
16
very suitable for baskets, mats, ropes, hats and fences.[3]
Dendrocalamus strictus: Dendrocalamus strictus is the most broadly dis-

tributed species of all Indian species and it is being used in a vast volume.
Since it is the most distributed species it is also the most studied.[3]
2.4.2 Monopodial Bamboos

Some examples of monopodial (temperate) bamboos are:
Arundinaria amabilis: The Arundinaria amabilis is from southern China

and was the most traded and used bamboo from 1880 to 1930. The large
culms of this species were particularly used for shing rods, for which this
species is ideal.[3]
Phyllostachys bambusoides: More than 60 percent of the bamboo harvest

in Japan comes from this species. Considering that Japan has 662 species
this is remarkable. It is well adapted for constructions and other industrial
uses and is also exceptional for erosion control.[3]
Phyllostachys nigra: This species is a native to China. In the end of its

rst season it turns into a solid black color. Thereby it got its name. Phyl-
lostachys nigra is, thanks to its excellent culm wood, especially appreciated
for cabinetwork and furniture.[3]
2.5 Cultivation, Curing and Harvesting

Not many bamboo species are cultivated in a controlled way. The species
which are used for industrial purposes are tall growing ones whit large culm
diameters. For the use in gardens, a group of small species have been
domesticated.[12]
2.5.1 Cultivation
Although most of the bamboo stock in the world grow in natural forests, it
can also be seen in plantations in some parts of the world [5]. The bamboo
plant prefers a fertile, well drained soil that should not be to dry. Thanks to
the system of rhizomes that rmly anchors the plant, the bamboo helps to
prevent erosion on the slopes were it often grows. A bamboo growing in a
cold climate prefers facing south, while a bamboo in a warm or mild climate
17
faces north.[3]
The bamboo should be planted as small plants, cuttings or osets, at

the start of the rainy season or in the beginning of spring [3]. The distance
between the plants should be approximately seven metres, which equals 225
plants per hectare. For an individual farmer it is hard to grow bamboo as
a crop, the cultivation of bamboo is an industrial and commercial activity.
The existing plantations in the world today are owned by cooperatives or
companies. A positive aspect of growing bamboo is that it can be planted at
places that normally are not put to any good use. A strip of land by the side
of a road or railway can be an ideal place for growing bamboo.[5] A negative
aspect of planting bamboo is the plants tendency to spread out when the
rhizomes elongate fairly big distances [3].
2.5.2 Curing
When starting up a bamboo plantation the selection of the site and the
species that will be planted is crucial. A market survey can identify the
future uses of the bamboo and thereby help select the appropriate species.
When choosing the species the local climate is also an important factor.[5]
Before planting the unwanted vegetation on the site must be taken away.
The small plants, cuttings or osets can be taken from a natural forest or
plant nursery. Since the bamboo owers gregariously it is advisable to use
planting material from various sources to avoid the possibility to lose the
entire plantation at the same time, when the plants die after blooming.[5]
According to Janssen[5], it is recommendable to use herbicides during the rst
two years. In the third year, the bamboo can struggle with other vegetation
on its own.
2.5.3 Harvesting
While timber may need more than 100 years rotation, bamboo can normally
be harvested after three to seven years [14]. The yield of a bamboo plan-
tation varies depending on the location, grove management, species and the
time since the previous cutting. There is no standardisation of how the yield
gures should be given. Sometimes the gures are for green weight of entire
plants or culms and sometimes for dried bamboo. The weight given some-
times is for mature culms only and sometimes for clear cutting of all bamboo
at the site.[3]
18
A bamboo management problem is the over-harvest of groves at forest
edges. This is due to the fact that people often chose to harvest the culms
at the shortest distance from their village. A consequence of this is that the
inner part of the bamboo groves grows so thick that it is impossible to reach
mature culms, ready to be harvested. [5] Since sympodial bamboos grow in
clumps, it is sometimes dicult to harvest those species. The oldest culms
that are ready to be harvested are often surrounded by younger culms that
are still growing. The solution is to cut into the grove from the direction
were the fewest young culms grow. In this way, a minimum amount of young
culms have to be sacriced.[3]
According to Flores[20], there is some important aspects that needs to be

considerated while harvesting bamboo:
• Do not fell culm less then three years old.
• If possible, harvest in winter when the insects hibernate.
• Make the cut at a maximum height of 25-35 centimetres from ground

level and always above the node. This is to avoid uid gathering in the
culm that would aect the rhizomes negatively.
• Do not harm the shots and small plants that surround the chosen culm.
• Before felling the culm, be aware of the age of it and its future use.
• Facilitate the drying of the culm by leaving it in a vertical position,

leaning on its branches or towards a support, at the site of felling.
• Just cut the culms that has been chosen for use.
• When felling the culms, make sure to leave enough mature culms to
protect the smaller plants against wind and direct sunlight.
• Remove the felled culms in 10-15 days after felling.
• Store the felled culms vertically in a covered and protected place.
2.5.4 Insects
If bamboo is not treated with wood preservatives or kept very dry, it is easily
attacked by insects [39]. There are various kinds of insects that can attack
bamboo. The attacks reduce the vitality of the plant and prevent the in-
crement. The insects that attack the bamboo have natural enemies, which
19
control the populations of these insects in natural stands of bamboo. Be-
cause of this natural control of the insects, the attacks are not considered
serious in natural stand of bamboo that has a good biodiversity and stable
population. In Asia, more than 800 species of insects that attack bamboo
has been recognized.[36]
In Asia, there exists more than 50 species of insects that can destroy n-
ished bamboo products or felled culms. This should be considered a serious
threat to the Asian bamboo industry because the damages can have a big
economical impact, for example in big constructions.[36]
Unfortunately, in most cases the insect attacks are prevented with the
help of non-environmentally friendly and poisonous products.
2.6 Anatomy and Mechanical Properties

The mechanical properties of a bamboo culm are determined by its anatom-
ical structure [6]. Below, the anatomical structure of bamboo is briey de-
scribed before its mechanical properties are presented.
2.6.1 Anatomical Structure

According to the anatomic study of bamboo made by Liese[6], the variation
between dierent bamboo species can be seen as rather small. These dif-
ferences between the species are of taxonomic value and they have inuence
on properties and processing. Bamboo has no radial cells, like trees have
rays, to transport liquids and nutrients. In the bamboo plant it is the node
that provides the transportation of those substances. The outer part of the
culm, the cortex, acts as a tissue protector and water blockader. The cells
are dierent in dierent part of the culm; they are vertically along the culm
length and transversally across the culm wall.[6]
Structure of the Internode

Most species possess hollow internodes where a culm wall is surrounding a
large cavity, but few species have solid internodes. A culm consists of approx-
imately 52 percent parenchyma, 40 percent bres and 8 percent conducting
tissue. The outer third part of the culm contains about 50 percent of all the
bres of the stem.[6]
20
Structure of the Node
The nodes of a bamboo culm are the repeated scars in the sheath that covers
the whole culm. A young bamboo has white nodes which can clearly be seen
in contrast to the green internodes.
The cells in the nodal area dier signicantly in size and form from the
cells in the internodes [6]. The essential chemical components of bamboo
are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin [10]. Hemicellulose and cellulose make
up more than 50 percent of the total chemical components in bamboo [7].
Lignin is also an important chemical component which acts as a binder for
the cellulose bres.[10]
The nodes have an immense inuence on the mechanical strength of the

culm. The shorter bres and distorted vascular bundles of the node lead to
higher density, lower volume shrinkage and lower tensile strength than the
internodes.[6]
2.6.2 Mechanical Properties

Bamboo is an anisotropic material; the properties in the longitu-
dinal direction are completely dierent from those in transversal
direction. In the longitudinal direction there are the cellulose
bers, which are strong and sti. In the transversal direction
there is lignin, which is soft and brittle. Therefore, bamboo is
a unidirectionally reinforced composite with comparatively little
tangential capacity.[5]
The density decide the mechanical properties of a culm [6]. According to the
studies of Liese[6], the density of the bamboo depends on the bre content,
bre diameter and cell wall thickness. Therefore the mechanical properties
vary signicantly within a culm and between species. The density varies ap-
proximately between 0,5 and 0,9 g/cm3 . The bre distribution varies in the
culm; the outer part of the culm has denser distribution of bres than the
inner part, see Figure 2.8, which means that the outer part has a far higher
density than the inner part.[6]
The base is the hardest and most resistant part of the bamboo culm [13],
and the bending strength is two to three times higher on outer parts than
inner parts. The density increases upward the culm, thanks to the thinner
culm wall with a higher compactness of vascular bundles. Older culms have
21
Figure 2.8: Microscope picture of Guadua chacoensis.
higher density than young culms.[6] In Table 2.1 some mechanical properties
of bamboo can be seen.
Density [kg/m3 ] 600-800

Young's modulus [MPa] 15 000-20 000
Tensile strength [MPa] 160-320
Compressive strength [MPa] 60-100
Flexural strength (modulus of rupture) [MPa] 80-160
Elongation [%] 2.88-3.52
Table 2.1: Mechanical properties of bamboo [33].
In spite of the fact that bamboo is a grass, it has many similarities to

wood. The cell construction and the properties of bamboo resemble the
structure of wood. Like earlier mentioned, the bamboo culm is harder on the
outer parts then the inner. The wood has reverse structure with a hard cen-
tre and is weaker in the outer parts. This is an advantage for bamboo, which
grounds a more stable construction.[42] Another advantage is that bamboo
does not have rays liker woods. Rays are channels necessary for transporta-
22
tion of food, mainly sugar, but they weaken the material. This leads to the
fact that bamboo often is stronger than wood.[5]
When bamboo is being compared with construction steel, one important

aspect is that constructing in steel needs 50 times more energy than bamboo.
Bamboo is a good alternative to steel when it comes to tensile loading. This
is due to the fact that bamboo has a six times higher quotient between tensile
strength and density than steel. When the humidity content increases the
physical and mechanical properties also increases.[11]
2.7 Renement Techniques

When it comes to the processes of rening bamboo, very few books and
articles are available. This is the result of that the knowledge about how
to rene bamboo in traditional ways, has been passed on from father to son
for centuries. The knowledge has not been transcribed to be published and
spread to others. The following section gives a very brief overview of the
most common renement techniques.
2.7.1 Drying
Depending on the species, site of growth and felling, a green bamboo culm
can have very high moisture content. In comparison to wood, bamboo take
longer time to dry and since there is a risk of deformation a quick drying is
preferable.[28]
Kiln Drying: Whole culms that are kiln dried often shows cracking and
therefore kiln drying is not recommended in these cases. However, kiln dry-
ing is usable for split bamboos.[28]
Air Drying: Depending on the initial moisture content in the culm and
the wall thickness, air drying takes approximately six to twelve weeks. In
some species non-uniform shrinkage and excessively shrinkage causes collapse
that makes the culm useless. Those problems are most often seen in drying
of young culms, hence it is recommended that only mature culms are used for
drying. Fewer problems are seen in drying of split bamboos. Split bamboos
can even be dried in open sun-light without any problems. To accelerate
the drying of whole bamboos they can be dried in an upright position, see
Figure 2.9. Split bamboo can protably also be dried placed in an upright
position.[28]
23
Figure 2.9: Bamboo culms drying.
2.7.2 Cutting
The easiest way to cut bamboo in desired lengths is with a saw [3]. It is im-
portant that the tools are sharp, since this prevent tearing and splitting [4].
A common belief in many countries where bamboo grows, is that the

phase of the moon during which the bamboo is felled, is correlated with the
possibility to latter insect attacks. There is no scientic basis to this belief.[4]
2.7.3 Splitting
Dierent splitting techniques have been developed in dierent countries.
Those are often very simple and depending on the thickness of the culm
wall, dierent tools are used.[4] The most common tool for splitting bamboo
is a sharp machete. The blade is forced through the culm to separate the
pieces from each other. To be able to fasten the process of splitting bam-
boo, techniques have been developed for dealing with large amounts of raw
material.[3]
24
2.7.4 Bending
According to Farrelly[3], bamboo can be bent by heating it or by soaking
it rst. When heating the bamboo, the mortar holding the bers becomes
exible and it is possible to bend the material to a desired shape. The shape
to which the bamboo is formed is preserved after cooling.
2.7.5 Joints
The best placements for joints are near nodes, since the internodes are hol-
low and can therefore break relatively easy. Making joints in bamboo is not
trivial since the culm is hollow, not perfectly circular and has nodes at vary-
ing distances. All these restrictions have to be considered while designing a
joint.[5] Typical jointing can be seen in Figure 2.10.
Janssen[5], arranges the dierent joints into eight groups, depending on

how the jointed pieces are arranged in relation to each other, and if jointed
from the inside or outside of the culm. In the groups, dierent ways of putting
the pieces together exists; lashes of dierent types and pins of steel or wood.
Four of the groups Janssen mentions are:
• Full cross section. This group is characterized by contact of

the full cross-section of the bamboo culm. Mostly lashing is
used to keep the bamboo culm in position.
• From inside to an element parallel. In most cases, the hollow
of the bamboo is lled with material like cement, mortar or
a piece of timber, after which the jointing moves into the
better known area of joints between steel bars or wooden
pieces.
• From inside to an element perpendicular.
• For split bamboo. This too is a modern development. Thin
pieces of galvanized steel fastened with nails. Used in prefab-
ricated housing. Besides glue, nails or pieces of galvanized
steel also can act as jointing material.
Janssen[5], further tells that scaoldings made of jointed bamboo culms,

are an extraordinary example of good jointing. The culms are jointed to-
gether with lashes of bamboo and it is important to apply the strips wet, so
that the shrinkage leads to a perfect bonding.
25
Figure 2.10: Bamboo joints.
2.7.6 Laminating
In general, laminated bamboo boards are manufactured from monopodial
bamboos. The boards are close to wood when it comes to the qualities
and appearance. Laminated bamboo is very suitable for ooring and fur-
niture and can replace wood in doors and window-frames and many other
applications.[8]
The process of laminating bamboo begins with the translation of the

bamboo culms into strips with a uniform rectangular shape. After drying
the strips into the right moisture content an adhesive is applied on the sides
of each one. The strips are pressed together to get a good bonding. When
laminating, the strips can be placed against each other in two dierent ways.
26
Depending on the position of the strips the laminate is denominated vertical
or horizontal.[8] In Figure 2.11 vertical and horizontal laminates can be seen.
Figure 2.11: Vertical and horizontal laminates.
When manufacturing bamboo laminates, the wall thickness and the di-
ameter of the culm have inuence on the manufacturing process and the end
result. These two parameters limit the size of the bamboo strips which are
glued together when making laminates. According to Bansal et.al [8], the
colour of the laminate can be darkened by steaming the bamboo strips be-
fore drying them. The temperature of the steam and the time of steaming
decide the nuance developed. A higher temperature and a longer steaming
time gives a darker colour.[8]
2.7.7 Surface Treatment

The nishing method depends on the end-use of the bamboo and also the
specic product. Some possible surface treatments are smoking, lacquering
and painting.[4]
27
2.8 World Market
The bamboo world market had in 2003 reached a level of 10 billion US dollars
and is growing, thanks to the increasing demand of environmentally friendly
green bamboo products. Today the bamboo industry has an important role
in providing food, housing and income generation for about 2.2 billion people
in the world.[19]
The world population and economy are growing at the same time as the
demand for wood and wood products are increasing and the world forests
are shrinking. One possible solution to this problem is broader exploitation
and use of wood substitutes.[14] Bamboo has an immense potential as wood
substitute as it is fast growing. In this area, as wood substitute, bamboo's
potential is strengthen by the fact that it is a wide spread, low cost and
environmental friendly plant.[19] Suitable areas for further development and
penetration are ooring, furniture, buildings, constructions, panels, paper
and bamboo for plywood.[12]
2.9 Bamboo Uses

In terms of diversity, distribution and uses, bamboo is the unri-
valled leader in the world of plants. There are over 1 500 docu-
mented uses for bamboo, and more are being discovered by mod-
ern science and technology.[6]
Bamboo can be rened in small craft based companies at village level

but also in more modern high technological industries. Bamboo and bamboo
bre can be used in a wide range of applications, from simple handicrafts to
more advanced bre-based products.[19]
2.9.1 Constructions
Bamboo products are hard and durable, which makes the material a suit-
able substitute for wood in many elds of application. One example is
constructions.[12]
Bridges: In China and Asia there are bamboo bridges of many designs.
Cables of bamboo bres were the rst material used for suspension bridges.
Five centimetres thick bamboo cables can be spanned up to 76 metres and
manage to support four tons without central support.[3]
28
Waterstorage: Cement tanks reinforced with bamboo have been used
as an alternative to aluminium tanks. The cement tanks proved to be four
times cheaper than galvanized steel tanks of equal size. Other uses are wa-
terwheels, water pipes and water systems.[3]
Fences: Farrelly[3], gives examples of how bamboo can be used in the

garden; functional walls around properties, fences for animals and decora-
tion. In Figure 2.12 a typical fence for animals can be seen.
Figure 2.12: A fence of bamboo in Bolivia.
Scaolding: In many countries in Asia is bamboo used for construction

of scaoldings. In comparison to steel scaolding, the scaolding made out
of bamboo are well known for its low costs and ability to resists hurricanes.[5]
Cases are known wherein bamboo scaolds survived hurricanes

that blew away steel ones as if they were matchsticks.[5]
In spite of these advantages, bamboo scaolding faces strong competition

from steel scaolding. If bamboo scaolding is going to be spread to other
parts of the world it is very important with a standardized system.[5]
29
2.9.2 Buildings
Since hundreds of years, bamboo is used for constructions like houses, build-
ings and other structures [15].
Housing: The qualities and distribution of bamboo make it an excel-

lent material for easy built and cheap houses. Like earlier mentioned, it is a
lightweight material with a strength that is large in relation to its weight.[5]
Today approximately one billion people in the world live in bamboo houses
[9]. One negative aspect is that the bamboo should not be in contact with
wet soil, see Figure 2.13. Therefore the bamboo culms need to be extended
at the lower end, for example with concrete, to prevent decomposition.[5]
In many parts of the world bamboo is still considered as the poor mans
timber and Janssen[5], writes about examples were people have made their
bamboo houses look like concrete houses. These processes, mixing bamboo
with concrete, weaken the structure of the houses and expose the lives of
the people living there to danger. The problem is the bonding between the
bamboo and the concrete. The bamboo wants to absorb water when the
concrete is poured around it. When the concrete dries and gets harder, the
bamboo also dries and shrinks.
Janssen[5], gives an example of a calculation that has been made. It is

calculated that 70 hectare of bamboo plantation is sucient to build 1 000
bamboo houses per year. If these houses were built with timber instead, 600
hectare of natural forest would have been devastated each year.
Storerooms: One also important area that Farrelly[3], writes about is

how bamboo is being used for building simple, low-cost, small-scale systems
for storage and preservation of crops. These storerooms are important for
enlarging the supply of food and make it more available to people.
Temporary Shelter: Bamboo is also a well suited material for building

temporary shelter that can be put up in only a few hours.[3]
2.9.3 Plybamboo, Laminate and Furniture

Plybamboo: Plybamboo is plywood made of bamboo. A positive aspect is
that the process of manufacturing plybamboo can start at village level and
end up in a modern factory.[5]
30
Figure 2.13: A bamboo veranda.
Laminate: A future possible large eld of application is laminate. New

techniques of lamination can be of importance to modern industrial design.[3]
Examples of applications for bamboo laminate are furniture and ooring.
Furniture: Bamboo has since a long time been used for furniture, often
it is the straight culm that is used. Furniture is a good example of a product
that can be made with simple tools at village level.[5]
31
2.9.4 Paper
Paper made out of bamboo has a nearly two thousand year long tradition in
Asian countries. The rst seventeen hundred years the paper was made by
hand. The following centuries new methods and processes for paper making
were developed, and today India leads the bamboo paper production.[3]
Bamboo matures very fast in comparison with woods. This leads to the
fact that bamboo can provide two to six times as much cellulose per area
compared to pine. It is predicted that the quantity of bamboo pulp will
increase dramatically because of the advantages bamboo has.[3]
2.9.5 Ecomaterial
Bamboo has several important ecological roles such as ood tamer, soil
binder, windbreaker and earthquake neutralizer. It can also be used for
fuel production and as carbon dioxide converter.
Fuel: Farrelly[3], explains that bamboo is an environmental friendly ma-

terial and that the harvesting does not disturb the soil, which makes it well
suited for fuel production. Another positive aspect is that bamboo is a re-
newable energy source with an annual increase of 10 to 30 percent.
Carbon dioxide converter: Bamboo consists of cellulose and lignin

that both contain much carbon. This means that bamboo needs a lot of car-
bon to grow. Bamboo acts as a carbon dioxide converter that absorb carbon
from the air and store it in a process called carbon sequestration.[5]
Bamboo generates up to 35 percent more oxygen then the same amount

of trees [30]. In a project run by the Environmental Bamboo Foundation,
individuals are given a way to balance their personal carbon dioxide output
by buying a share of a bamboo forest.[29]
2.9.6 Other Uses

Because of bamboo's rich amount of elds of application all uses can not
be mentioned. But some other uses of bamboo worth mentioning are: food,
health products, medicines, decoration and utensils.
32
2.9.7 Recently Developed Uses
Ford Motor Company has recently presented a concept car, see Figure 2.14,
with a futuristic combination of materials: bamboo, aluminium and carbon-
bre. On the Tokyo motor show 2005 the car company Chrysler presented
an idea of a future car, see Figure 2.14, with interior in recyclable material
and bamboo ooring.
Figure 2.14: Ford concept car [32], and Chrysler future car [35].
The computer hardware company Asus has developed an eco-friendly lap-

top, see Figure 2.15. The laptop case is covered in bamboo and all the plastic
in it is labelled and recyclable. There are no paints or sprays used on its com-
ponents and the upgrading of components has been made easier.
Figure 2.15: Asus eco-friendly laptop with a bamboo case [38].
The Finish furniture company Artek has recently released a collection of

bamboo furniture, consisting of tables and chairs, see Figure 2.16.
For spring 2007, the clothing rm Northface added new bamboo clothes
to their ecoCloth Collection. The cloths consists of cotton and bamboo bres.
33
Figure 2.16: Artek bamboo table [27].
34
Chapter 3
Method and Performance
The following chapter describes the method and performance of the Master
thesis. The delimitations of the thesis are also presented.
3.1 Research Approach

Bamboo is probably the fastest-growing and highest yielding nat-
ural resource and construction material available to mankind [18].
In spite of the statement above, bamboo has not yet reached its fully po-
tential in Europe. Just recently, European engineers and designers have dis-
covered this multifunctional highly environmentally friendly material. Both
authors of this Master thesis are students of Industrial Engineering, spe-
cialised in Wood Technology. Although bamboo is a grass, this material is
highly interesting to anyone working with wood and wood-products. During
autumn 2006 the authors of this report read several articles about the intro-
duction of bamboo products on the Swedish market, mostly ooring, hence
the interest of studying bamboo for the Master thesis. The fact that bam-
boo does not grow in Sweden and the co-operation beteween the University
of Linköping and UPSA led to the choice of going to Bolivia to learn more
about bamboo.
3.2 Pre-Study Phase

The Pre-study phase began in Sweden in January 2007 at the University of
Linköping. During spring, litterature studies were carried out to obtain more
knowledge about bamboo. Both books and a large number of academical
articles were reviewed. Preliminary contacts in Bolivia were established to
35
be able to visit forest communities and companies working with bamboo in
the Santa Cruz region. In April the same year the authors attended to a
course in Gothenburg, which was arranged by Sida, to get information about
how it is to live and work in a developing country.
3.2.1 Brainstorming
Once in Santa Cruz the research objective of the Master thesis was to be
decided. The authors brainstormed about possible areas to work within to be
able to determine the course of the study. The brainstorming was carried out
together with Mr. Luis Fernando Ortiz, an Industrial Engineering student
at UPSA, also doing his Master thesis on the subject of bamboo.
3.2.2 Mind Map

The brainstorming process was summarized in a mind map, see Figure 3.1,
to give an overview of the conceivable areas of the study. The subhead-
ings are listed without any relative order. Some areas discussed during the
brainstorming process are not included in the mind map due to their vague
relevance for the thesis's outcome.
36
Figure 3.1: Possible working areas summarised in a Mind map.
37
3.3 Evaluation of Possible Working Areas
After summarizing the possible working areas in the mind map, an evalua-
tion of each category was made. This evaluation was conducted verbally by
the authors together with Mr. Luis Fernando Ortiz. The possible working
areas were discussed and evaluated with consideration for the relevancy and
the accessible resources, both monetary ones and those concerning the space
of time, for the Master thesis. Furthermore, the authors personal interests
were taken into account when choosing the working area of the thesis.
The country's lack of information about the mechanical properties of

native bamboos lead to the choice of studying this area. After the discussion
and evaluation of possible working areas the objective in Section 1.2 was
formulated.
3.4 Delimitations
The thesis's frame of reference, in Chapter 2, is deliberately extensive to get a
wide-ranged knowledge about bamboo. This makes it necessary to delimitate
the research to a specic objective hence many interesting areas described in
the frame of reference are not further investigated. The total amount of time
accessible to carry out the Master thesis is 20 weeks, 13 of those consists of
the eld study in Santa Cruz. The restricted time-frame and the available
equipment constitute themselves in important limitations for the research
work.
The authors chose to study the mechanical properties of Guadua chacoen-

sis, a bamboo species native to Bolivia. A brief study of the uses of Guadua
chacoensis will be carried out. No market research will be made concerning
bamboo. The market of bamboo products will only be briey discussed.
There are no existing standards about how to conduct mechanical properties

test of bamboo. Therefore the authors used standards for wood as a guid-
ance. Due to the limited time and resources the number of specimens tested
had to be limited. For the same reasons the mechanical tests were limited
to; tensile test parallel to bre, bending test and hardness test perpendicular
to bre.
38
3.5 The Field Study
Between 4th of July and 19th of September 2007 the authors were stationed
in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to carry through the eld study. Cadefor oered
the possibility to a working place at their head quarter oce in Santa Cruz
and the knowledge and experience of the employees was available during the
whole stay. UPSA made laboratory equipment available to facilitate the
mechanical properties tests supervised by Gastón Mejia, Jorge Zeballos and
Gustavo Quinteros. The contacts in Santa Cruz, made by the University
of Linköping, and intermediated by Stig Algstrand, were used to get useful
information about bamboo in Bolivia.
During the eld study theoretical studies were made, collecting local and
international information about bamboo and Guadua chacoensis in particu-
lar. The laboratory tests were prepared and conducted during a period of
nine weeks. To get a deeper understanding of the material and its origin
several localities of the plant were visited, among them Buena Vista and
Ascención de Guarayos.
3.6 Analysis
The results of the mechanical properties tests were analysed through compar-
ison with corresponding mechanical properties of oak, birch, ash, beech and
pine. To give further references to the reader some comparison with steel and
aluminium alloys were made. Steel and aluminium are common construction
materials and are also used in many other applications that are the same
as for bambu. Since there exist many dierent steels and aluminium alloys
the comparison was made with the types that have uses similar to those for
bamboo.
To be able to analyse the future possibilities of Guadua chacoensis in Bo-

livia a SWOT-analysis was made followed by brainstorming, where dierent
elds of application were discussed.
3.7 The Quality of the Study

To be able to utilize the results given by this Master thesis in a suitable way,
it is important to do an analysis of the quality of the study. The validity and
the reliability of the thesis are discussed in the following section.
39
3.7.1 Validity
In spite of the fact that bamboo grows in abundance in Bolivia, very few
investigations of the material and its possibilities have been made. No in-
vestigations about the mechanical properties of Guadua chacoensis has been
published. Due to this fact this Master thesis can be valuable as a rst initia-
tive to further investigation of the bamboo species native to Bolivia. Through
amplied knowledge of bamboo, the potentials of the Bolivian bamboo indus-
try can be illuminated and thereby more sources of income can be created.
3.7.2 Reliability
Due to lack of resources, as for example precise carpentry equipment, the
specimens could not be given exactly the same dimensions and the moisture
content could not be explicitly measured. The ve culms tested, all came
from the same location, they are believed to be representative to the species
but this can not be conrmed.
40
Chapter 4
Bamboo in Bolivia
Approximately 44 percent of the surface of Bolivia consists of forests. The

forested area of Bolivia constitute in seven percent of the total Tropical Ama-
zon, which makes Bolivia number six of the worlds countries with tropical
forests. Historically Bolivia has, in comparison to the volume of the resource,
not taken advantage of its forest resources.[21]
In South America the value of the bamboo plant and its variety of uses
have been appreciated since the time of the Incas. Bamboo has been used in
the majority of all the prehispanic cultures since more then 5000 years ago.
It has been used for trade, housing and fences, alimentation, weapons, music
instruments and medicine among many other fundamental functions.[2]
4.1 Distribution
No gures of how much bamboo that grows in Bolivia exist. The majority
of the areas where bamboo grows in abundance are indigenous territories,
where the native Indians use the resource for a variety of domestic purposes.
In some areas the bamboo forests are converted into agricultural land and
pastures by large landowners. The area with the biggest stock of bamboo is
the department of Santa Cruz.[24]
The main bamboo growing areas in Bolivia can be seen in Figure 4.1. The
numbers in the gure relate to areas where dierent species grow. Number
three is for Guadua chacoensis.
41
Figure 4.1: Bolivia's main bamboo growing regions are marked [24].
4.2 Species
The rst taxonomy study of bamboo in Bolivia was made in 2004. In spite
of this study, the number of bamboo species in the country is still very
uncertain. Dierent sources give dierent answers according to the question
about the number of bamboo species in Bolivia. Some quantities mentioned
are 23-27 species [44], 24 species [25] and 42 species [43].
42
4.3 Bamboo Industry
The bamboo sector in Bolivia is still in its infancy. The rst bamboo investi-
gations in Bolivia were not initialised until the 21th century. The knowledge
of the geographic distribution of bamboo and the taxonomy of the species in
the country was insignicant until 2004.[20]
There are no existing bamboo plantations in Bolivia, with the exception

of some small plantations in central Bolivia, in the province of Florida. In
this region, bamboo shoots are produced by locals with Japanese origin and
used only for consumption.[24]
To be able to ocially exploit bamboo, and other forest products, a per-

mit from the Bolivian forest department in each provincial capital is needed.
Since it is very costly and complicated to obtain this permit, many of the
ones who exploit and transport bamboo in Bolivia, does this illegally.[24]
In Bolivia there is a big lack of awareness on the multi-functionality of

the bamboo and often the resources is wasted through burning and slash
methods. Bamboo is often perceived as a weed that is invading the land and
is considered a problem for agricultural production. This view has lead to
devastation and waste of bamboo resources that could be valuable to many
people.[24]
The existing capacity of the bamboo industry is considered low, compared

to the resource available in the country. The Bolivian forest raw material are
found in the provinces of Santa Cruz, Beni and Pando and the wood indus-
try, which is a very active sector of the economy, is located in the vicinities
of Santa Cruz, La Paz and Cochabamba. The number of companies working
with forest products is not clear, but there exists around 1 100 companies
that are legally known.[22]
Janssen[5], presents results from studies that shows how the bamboo in-
dustry can make a contribution to alleviate poverty through counteracting
unemployment:
One ton of bamboo in the craft sector can generate an average

of 150 working days. This means that two tons of bamboo is
enough to employ one person for one year. One hectare of bamboo
plantation can easily yield 20 tons per year, thus providing jobs
for 10 people in the community.
43
4.3.1 Forestal Communities
Bamboo is an important traditional product for many indigenous communi-
ties in Bolivia. For other communities, which are not using bamboo today,
it could be an alternative to crop and an alternative income source. Uncon-
trolled burning of the land and expansion of big cattle pastures is a great
menace to the bamboo forests. Although new applications of the plant are
found, this is still a very big threat to the natural resource. Ranchers burn
the bamboo before the rain season, to kill insects and parasites and encourage
new growth, which serves as food for the cattle.[24]
4.4 Bamboo Uses in Bolivia

Dierent species are suitable for dierent purposes, depending on their tech-
nical properties. In Bolivia, bamboo has traditionally been used by the na-
tive Indians for manufacturing of musical instruments, like utes and violins,
fences and baskets.[24]
It is very hard to nd any statistics or gures about the utilization, com-
mercialization and exportation of bamboo in Bolivia. One of the biggest
reasons for this fact is that the governmental institutions, national non-
governmental organizations and external organizations does not appreciate
this natural resource or give it any special attention. As a consequence of
this lack of awareness, no policies or plans have been developed for the use,
renement or conservation of the natural bamboo forests.[24]
In some areas the bamboo can be seen used in dierent types of construc-
tion works, but in most regions the bamboo is rened with old techniques
and inadequate methods. However, more industrial manufacturing methods
are being used in some areas for the production of furniture and handicrafts
which are sold on the market.[24] Figure 4.2 shows an example of how bam-
boo is used in constructions. The wall in the gure is reinforced with bamboo
culms.
4.4.1 Historical Uses

Many Indians living in the Andes fabricate music instruments of bamboo.
Those instruments are manufactured with the purpose of use in cultural
events, like traditional celebrations, or for the tourist industry and export
market. The Bolivian musical instruments made of bamboo plays an impor-
44
Figure 4.2: A housewall reinforced with bamboo culms.
tant role for the identity and cultural expression of the native people.[24]
Other not so common uses of the bamboo in Bolivia is the use in construc-
tions, see Figure 4.3, housing, see Figure 4.4, fencing, land rehabilitation,
soil conservation, water systems, tools, baskets and in the manufacturing of
handicrafts. In areas where bamboo grow in abundance and there is a lack
of rewood, the plant is used as fuel for heating houses and cooking.[24]
45
Figure 4.3: Overhanging roof for sun protection.
4.4.2 Modern Uses

Several species of bamboo are increasingly used for ornamental purposes, and
for the manufacturing of furniture and bigger constructions such as garden
sheds or houses, see Figure 4.5.[24]
46
Figure 4.4: Family house constructed with bamboo.
47
Figure 4.5: Restaurant complex and childrens playing area.
48
Chapter 5
Guadua Chacoensis
Guadua chacoensis is together with Guadua angustifolia, believed to be the

most frequent bamboo species in Bolivia. The species is native to South
America and grows in large quantities.
5.1 The Spicies

Guadua chacoensis, see Figure 5.1, is a sympodial species. Its culms can be
up to 20 meters high and have a diameter of 10-12 centimetres. The culm is
straight but inclines at the top and has hollow internodes. The leaves have a
lenght of 10-13 centimetres and a width of 5-8 millimetres.[26] A transversal
cut of Guadua chacoensis can be seen in Figure 5.2.
Family: Gramineae (Poaceae)

Subfamily: Bambusoideae
Species: Guadua chacoensis
Native names: Tacuara, Tacuarembó, Bambú, Guadua
5.2 Distribution
Guadua chacoensis grows in tropical forests, most commonly near rivers.
The plant prefers clayed and sandy soil. In Bolivia it is distributed in areas
situated in altitudes between 260 and 400 metres above mean sea level, in
the provinces of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. In the province of Santa Cruz
it grows in the areas of Ichilo and Guarayos, in Cochabamba in the area of
Carrasco.[26]
49
Figure 5.1: Culms of Guadua chacoensis.
Figure 5.2: Transversal cut of Guadua chacoensis.
5.3 Uses
As already mentioned in Chapter 4, no ocial information about the use
of bamboo and Guadua chacoensis in Bolivia exists. According to Gorena
50
[21], the species is used for baskets, carpets, constructions, furniture, handi-
crafts and fences. The authors of this thesis have observed the use of Guadua
chacoensis for constructions, furniture, see Figure 5.3, handicrafts and fences.
Figure 5.3: A chair made of Guadua chacoensis.
5.4 Mechanical Properties

Prior to this Master thesis no investigations about the mechanical properties
of Guadua chacoensis have been published. See Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 for
the results of the mechanical properties tests.
51
52
Chapter 6
Laboratory Tests of Guadua
Chacoensis
The objective of this Master thesis is to study the mechanical properties of

Guadua chacoensis. This was accomplished by examine the tensile strength,
bending strength and the hardness of the species. The authors carried out the
tests at UPSA. Below the procedure and reults of the mechanical properties
tests are presented.
6.1 Laboratory Standards

There are no existing standards describing how to carry through tests of
the mechanical properties of bamboo. An ISO standard is currently being
developed but has not yet been approved by ISO, the International Organisa-
tion for Standardisation. The lack of a bamboo-testing standard submitted
the authors to use a standard for wood. While conducting the mechanical
properties tests of bamboo, the authors used the following South-American
standards as a guidance:
Tension: Copant 742

Bending: Copant 555
Hardness: Copant 465
Some adjustments of the size of the specimens were made due to the hol-
low characteristics of the bamboo culm, that limits the dimensions of the
specimens. The tests were carried out using a mechanical properties testing
machine, see Figure 6.1.
53
Figure 6.1: Mechanical properties testing machine.
6.1.1 Tensile test

Through a tensile test the force required to break a specimen can be mea-
sured. The Young's modulus can be determined and the data can be used to
analyse the tensile strength of the material. The specimen is placed vertically
in the grips of a tensile test machine and a pulling force is applied until the
specimen breaks.
54
6.1.2 Bending test
In a three point bending test the specimen is placed lying on top of two
holders with a predetermined distance between them. A compressive load is
applied at half the distance between the holders, in other words in the middle
of the specimens length. While the load is applied the modulus of elasticity
is measured together with the exural stress and strain.
6.1.3 Hardness test

The hardness is tested by forcing a steel ball, with a known diameter, into
the material. The diameter of the indentation in the specimen is measured
and the Brinell hardness can be calculated when the applied load is known.
6.1.4 Specimens Preparation

The specimens were prepared from ve dierent bamboo culms felled in the
same grove. The culms were felled between 25th and 30th of June 2007 in San
Pablito, 250 kilometers from Santa Cruz. The ve culms were all between
three and four years old and were randomly chosen. Each culm, with a length
of three meters, was divided in two pieces with equal length, see Figure 6.2.
Figure 6.2: Schematic gure over the tested specimens.
Directly after dividing the culms the end of the pieces were painted, to
prevent humidity to disappear through the ends and make the culms dry
homogeneously. After painting the ends, the culms were brought to Santa
55
Cruz to be sawed into thin specimens and air-dried during a period of eight
to twelve weeks. For each test, specimens from the lower part of the culm
and the upper part of the culm was prepared. When the specimens were
prepared, no consideration was taken regarding the location of the nodes
at each specimen. The specimens from the lower part was marked with
an A, and the specimens from the upper part was marked with a B. All
specimens were labeled according to the following pattern: XYPrZ, were
X is the number of the culm and Y is the part of the culm. Pr stands for
Probeta which means specimen in Spanish and consequently Z is the specimen
number. For example, the rst tested specimen from part B of culm number
2 was labled 2BPr1.
6.2 Results of the Mechanical Properties Tests

In this section, the results of the mechanical properties tests are presented
in a comprehensive format. In the bottom of each table the mean, mini-
mum and maximum value can be seen. The complete results can be seen in
Appendices D, E and F.
6.2.1 Tensile Test Parallel to Fibre

For the tensile test 40 specimens was tested; 20 from part A of the culm and
20 from part B. The specimen, which had a rectangular shape with a waist,
see Figure 6.3, had the following dimensions [mm]:
Width: 9.2-11.9
Thickness: 5.2-7.5
Length: 247-263
The specimens were placed in the machine and load was applied until they
broke. The maximum load, the tensile stress at maximum load, the extension
at maximum load and the Young's modulus were measured.
The complete results of the tensile test is presented in Appendix D and
Figure 6.3: Tensile test specimen.
56
a summary of those are presented in Table 6.1 and Table 6.2. The average
of the Young's modulus for the tensile test is 11 185 MPa and the average of
the tensile stress at maximum load is 94 MPa.
6.2.2 Bending Test

For the bending test 21 randomly chosen specimens, from both part A and
part B and from all culms, were tested. The specimens were of rectangular
shape with following dimensions [mm]:
Width: 25
Thickness: 6-8
Length: 360
The specimens were placed in the machine and load was applied until they
broke. The maximum compressive load, the extension at maximum compres-
sive load, load at break, compressive extension at break and the modulus of
rupture were measured. The complete results of the bending test are pre-
sented in Appendix E and a summary of those are presented in Table 6.3.
The average of the load at break is 144 N and the average of the modulus of
rupture for the bending test is 19 MPa.
6.2.3 Hardness Test Perpendicular to Fibre

For the hardness test 40 specimens were tested; 20 from part A of the culm
and 20 from part B. Both sides of each specimen were tested, the rst side
was labeled I and the second side II. The label of each side is randomly given
and has nothing to do with inner and outer part of the culm. The specimens
had a rectangular shape with the following dimensions [mm]:
Part A Part B
Width: 25 Width: 25
Thickness: 8 Thickness: 5
Length: 100 Length: 100
The specimens were placed in the machine and a load was applied corre-
sponding to an impression of three millimetres for the specimens from part
A, and one millimetre for the specimen from part B. The dierence in depth
of impression was due to the dierent thicknesses of the specimens, depend-
ing on if they were from part A or B, which is a consequence of the hollow
57
characteristics of the bamboo culm and that the wall thickness of the culm
decreases with the height of the culm. The maximum possible thickness for
the specimens from part B was ve millimetres. The maximum load and the
maximum compressive extension were measured. The hardness according to
Brinell was calculated using the following formula:
2P
HB = √
πD(D − D2 − d2 )
HB is the Brinell hardness, P the maximum load, D the diameter of the

steel ball and d the diameter of the impression.
P was the output from each test, D was 11.5 millimetres and d was calculated
using simple geometrics knowing the maximum compressive extension.
The complete results of the hardness test are presented in Appendix F

and a summary of those are presented in Table 6.4 and Table 6.5. In the
tables, the mean values of the Brinell hardness of each culm are presented.
The average of the hardness is 1.85 HB.
58
Specimen Max load Tensile stess Extension Young's
at max at max modulus
[N] load [MPa] load [mm] [MPa]
1APr1 8518 132 7.4 16673
1APr2 4919 75 6.6 12368
1APr3 6249 101 4.1 18215
1APr4 2457 38 1.0 11358
2APr1 4579 73 5.9 9580

2APr2 7432 116 8.5 8861
2APr3 7111 111 7.7 8725
2APr4 3972 64 3.8 8379
3APr1 4583 71 2.8 10949

3APr2 5954 92 7.1 8497
3APr3 5733 88 5.3 10566
3APr4 5655 91 4.5 11390
4APr1 4208 68 4.0 10580

4APr2 3232 49 2.0 8016
4APr3 4105 65 6.7 7329
4APr4 5354 84 8.6 7582
7APr1 4181 66 3.1 9868

7APr2 2959 47 1.8 9842
7APr3 4190 66 3.7 9559
7APr4 4287 68 5.5 8955
Statistics
Mean 4984 78 5.0 10365
Min 2457 38 1.0 7329
Max 8518 132 7.4 18215
Table 6.1: Result of tensile test part A.
59
Specimen Max load Tensile stess Extension Young's
at max at max modulus
[N] load [MPa] load [mm] [MPa]
1BPr2 6489 85 10.9 3357
1BPr4 8349 111 12.1 5818
2BPr1 6691 105 8.1 8495

2BPr2 6650 104 8.7 6860
2BPr3 7946 95 13.4 3602
3BPr2 4061 64 8.5 6963

3BPr3 9712 133 4.7 20359
3BPr4 5926 87 9.7 12683
4BPr1 6634 99 4.3 15409

4BPr2 5970 90 10.1 14998
4BPr4 8232 131 6.4 17913
7BPr2 9774 183 10.8 19984

7BPr3 10127 159 8.5 19883
7BPr4 4350 92 1.2 20660
Statistics
Mean 7208 110 8.4 12642
Min 4061 64 1.2 3357
Max 10127 183 13.4 20660
Table 6.2: Result of tensile test part B.
60
Specimen Load at Compressive Modulus
break extension at of rupture
[N] break [mm] [MPa]
Pr1 156 92.7 0.40
Pr2 79 53.0 1.07
Pr3 70 62.6 1.07
Pr4 70 57.5 0.60
Pr5 123 71.9 0.46
Pr6 216 31.0 32
Pr7 323 32.1 34
Pr8 71 55.8 20
Pr9 70 55.8 18
Pr10 71 28.5 26
Pr11 254 28.6 25
Pr12 70 35.4 17
Pr13 168 35.2 22
Pr14 116 47.9 32
Pr15 268 28.4 33
Pr16 97 53.4 12
Pr17 70 40.2 18
Pr18 292 37.5 42
Pr19 274 47.2 28
Pr20 71 25.4 25
Pr21 88 45.6 11
Statistics
Mean 144 46.0 19
Min 70 25.4 0.40
Max 323 92.7 42
Table 6.3: Results of bending test.
61
Culm Hardness
Brinell [HB]
1A 2.4
2A 2.7
3A 2.4
4A 1.6
7A 2.3
Statistics
Mean 2.3
Minimum 1.6
Maximum 2.7
Table 6.4: Results of hardness test part A.
Culm Hardness
Brinell [HB]
1B 1,0
2B 1,9
3B 1,7
4B 1,1
7B 1,4
Statistics
Mean 1,4
Minimum 1,0
Maximum 1,9
Table 6.5: Results of hardness test part B.
62
Chapter 7
Analysis
This chapter contains the analysis of the results from the laboratory tests, a
SWOT-analysis of Guadua chacoensis in Bolivia and some suggestions and
possibilities concerning the Bolivian bamboo industry.
7.1 Laboratory Tests

Each test is analysed separately and the mean value of the results given by
the mechanical properties tests are compared with the corresponding gures,
from reference [1] and [33], of European oak (Quercus robur ), European birch
(Betula ), ash (Fraxinus excelsior ), beech (Fagus silvatica ) and pine (Pinus
silvestris ) together with aluminium and steel. For the tensile test the gures
for the Young's modulus and the tensile strength are analysed. The gures
for the modulus of rupture and the Brinell hardness are analysed in the
bending respectively hardness test.
7.1.1 Tensile Test Parallel to Fibre

The most distinct observation made during the tensile tests is the fact that,
with very few exceptions, all specimens broke at the node. This clear obser-
vation shows that the node is the weakest part of the bamboo culm. The big
range of the test results depends partly of the specimens dierent locations
of the nodes.
The range of the Young's modulus is 3 357-20 660 MPa. Of 34 tested

specimens 22 (65%) have a modulus that lies between 6 500 and 13 000 MPa.
Three specimens have a modulus under 6 500 MPa and nine specimens have
a modulus over 13 000 MPa. Four reached a modulus around 20 000 MPa.
63
The specimens from the upper part of the culm, part B, have a slightly
higher mean value of the Young's modulus than the specimens from the lower
part, part A. This is due to the fact that the bre content and thereby the
density is higher in the upper part of the culm.
The modulus for Guadua chacoensis is in the same range as the Young's
modulus for all the comparing woods, see Table 7.1. This bamboo species
has a modulus a little bit higher than the modulus for pine and ash and is
comparable with oak.
The range of the tensile strength is 38-183 MPa. Of 34 tested specimens

26 (76%) have a tensile strength that lies between 60 and 120 MPa. Three
specimens have a tensile strength under 60 MPa and ve specimens have a
tensile strength over 120 MPa. The highest measured value of the tensile
strength is 183 MPa.
The specimens from the upper part of the culm, part B, have in general a
higher value of the tensile strength than the specimens from the lower part,
part A. This is related to the variation in modulus in the dierent parts of
the culm.
The tensile strength of Guadua chacoensis is higher than the tensile

strength for oak and pine, but lower than for ash, birch and beech. The
species has a tensile strength similar to some aluminium alloys.
Young's modulus Tensile strength

[MPa] [MPa]
Guadua chacoensis 11 185 94
European oak 10 000 - 13 000 90
European birch 13 000 - 15 000 137
Ash 8 300 - 13 400 165
Beech 10 000 - 16 000 135
Pine 10 000 - 12 000 60 - 73
Aluminium alloys 68 000 - 82 000 58 - 550
Steel 165 000 - 217 000 345 - 1 760
Table 7.1: Table for comparison of modulus and tensile strength.
64
7.1.2 Bending Test
The bending test was conducted at two separate occasions. Specimen num-
ber one to ve were tested rst, and a few days later the test was completed
by testing specimen number six to twentyone. Due to the big dierences in
the test results, especially in the modulus of rupture, depending on which
day the specimens were tested, it is likely that the gures for specimen num-
ber one to ve are not reliable. Hence, new overall mean values have been
calculated, excluding specimen number one to ve.
The new overall mean value of the load at break is 157 N and the overall
mean value of the modulus of rupture for the bending test is 25 MPa. The
old values were 144 N and 19 MPa.
The mean value of the modulus of rupture for Guadua chacoensis is much
lower than the one for all the compared woods, see Table 7.2. This means
that it is very exible. Some aluminium alloys can reach values close to the
one for Guadua chacoensis but steel is much less exible.
Flexural strength
(Modulus of rupture) [MPa]
Guadua chacoensis 25
European oak 112 - 137
European birch 119 - 145
Ash 78 - 96
Beech 93 - 113
Pine 65 - 79
Aluminium alloys 33 - 326
Steel 330 - 1 900
Table 7.2: Table for comparison of bending properties.
7.1.3 Hardness Test Perpendicular to Fibres

The mean value of the hardness of Guadua chacoensis, 1.85 HB, is similar to
the one for pine and slightly lower than the hardness of the other compared
woods, see Table 7.3. Neither bamboo or any of the compairing woods can
beat aluminium alloys and steel when it comes to hardness. Aluminium al-
loys have a hardness that is more than ve times bigger than the hardness of
bamboo and steel is more than twenty times harder. The dierence between
65
the hardness of the lower part of the culm, part A, and the upper part of the
culm, part B, is signicant. The lower part of the culm is harder than the
upper part. This conrms the earlier mentioned fact, in Chapter 2, that the
base of the bamboo culm is the hardest part. The lower part of the culm,
with a top value of 2.7 HB, has a hardness similar to birch.
Hardness Brinell [HB]

Guadua chacoensis 1.85
European oak 3.4-4.1
European birch 2.2-2.7
Ash 3.0-4.1
Beech 2.7-4.0
Pine 1.9
Aluminium alloys 10-140
Steel 100-200
Table 7.3: Table for comparison of hardness properties.
Due to the hollow characteristics of the bamboo culm the thickness of the
specimens for the hardness test was limited. To be able to test the hardness of
these thin specimens the Brinell test had to be modied to suit this purpose.
Normally, testing the Brinell hardness is made by pressing a steel ball with
a xed force into the surface of the material. Since the bamboo specimens
were so thin, it was only possible to press the steel ball 1-3 millimetres into
the surface. In the test conducted the impression of the steel ball was xed
instead of the force. This change should not have had any inuence on the
test result but it is important to know that the hardness test did not follow
the normal procedure.
7.2 SWOT-Analysis
The following section contains a SWOT-analysis, see Table 7.4, which shows
the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for Guadua chacoensis
and its possibilities in Bolivia.
66
Strengths Weaknesses
Grows in abundance Non homogeneous culm structure
Fast growing Hollow culm
Good carrying capacities Lack of scientic knowledge
Traditionally used by natives Lack of technical knowledge and
Big ratio of strength/density standards
Can be used for land
rehabilitation
Opportunities Threats
Growing demand Forest devastation and burning
Exportation Lack of regulations and plans
Big range of applications Poor felling and transportation
Jobcreation possibilities
Existing knowledge in Asia Lack of understanding for the value
New renement techniques of the plant
Plantations
Table 7.4: SWOT-analysis of Guadua chacoensis in Bolivia.
7.2.1 Strengths
One important aspect of Guadua chacoensis in Bolivia is that it grows in
abundance in several areas in the country. It is a fast growing plant and it is
possible to harvest every fourth to seventh year. Bamboo has traditionally
been used in many dierent applications by the native indigenous people,
which is a good foundation for an increasing use. The hollow culm of the
bamboo plant makes it a good construction material since the shape has
good carrying capacities. The hollowness also makes the raw material light
and easy to transport and handle. The ratio of strength to density is big
which makes the material very competitive to other construction materials,
for example steel. An environmental strength of this bamboo is that, as
all other bamboos, it is an eco-friendly material as it can be used for land
rehabilitation and erosion control.
67
7.2.2 Weaknesses
The non homogeneous structure of the culm, with its nodes placed at inter-
vals, makes it dicult to rene the material and can sometimes limitate the
uses of the plant. One example is the problem concerning joining together
culms with each other or with other materials. The nodes are also the limi-
tation when it comes to the strength properties of bamboo. The hollowness
of the culm makes it dicult to use bamboo in some applications. For exam-
ple nails can not be used with bamboo. The process of laminating bamboo
can generate big amounts of waste material, due to the round shape and
hollowness of the culm. The big lack of scientic and technical knowledge of
bamboo in Bolivia constitute in the biggest weakness of all. The fact that
almost no investigations of bamboo in Boliva have been carried out and pub-
lished shows the big lack of knowledge and information about how to handle,
rene, use and take advantage of this natural resource. Adequate equipment,
like machines and tools for felling and renement, is non existent together
with standards over how to examine and handle bamboo.
7.2.3 Opportunities
The growing local and international demand of bamboo raw material and
products is a great opportunity for Bolivia. The exportation possibilities to
other South American countries, North America and Europe can be signif-
icant for a future bamboo industry. Guadua chacoensis have a big range
of dierent possible application elds. In general, today it is only used for
some construction work, small-scale furniture manufacturing and handicrafts.
Bamboo plantations and new renement techniques are other possibilities to
strengthen the bamboo industry in Bolivia and thereby create employment.
Bolivia has the possibility to take advantage of the great existing knowl-
edge of bamboo that exists in Asia. If knowledge about cultivation, harvest
and renement of bamboo would be brought from Asia, this would make it
possible to avoid the most common mistakes, when developing this hitherto
undeveloped industry.
7.2.4 Threats
Forest devastation and burning for conversion of forest into pastures is a big
threat to the bamboo industry. Today farmers burn, according to tradition,
the land to create more pasturage. This is done without knowing the long
term consequences, like impoverishing the soil. This burning kills all the nat-
ural growing vegetation including the bamboo. Like mentioned in Chapter 4,
68
hardly any of the government institutions, national non-governmental orga-
nizations or external organizations involved in the use and management of
natural resources, have paid special attention to bamboo. This has lead to a
big lack of regulations and plans according to the use and cultivation of this
plant. The lack of understanding of the value of bamboo is a threat since this
prevents the possibilities to take advantage of this natural resource. Today,
the transportation possibilities are very poor. Bad roads or no roads at all
makes it very dicult to fell and transport raw-material from the jungle.
7.3 Possibilities for Guadua Chacoensis

Below, some thoughts discussed during a brainstorming about the Bolivian
bamboo industry are presented.
The prospects for developing the bamboo industry in Bolivia are good.
To be able to make business out of Guadua chacoensis in Bolivia there are
some important aspects, that are recommeded by the authors. For example
the location of the company is very important due to the poor infrastructure
and transportation possibilities. Another very important aspect is the choice
of products which will be produced. Since there are very little technical
knowledge and experiences concerning production of bamboo products it is
important to start with rather simple products. This will create a technical
knowledge about how to work the material and gradually more advanced
products can be manufactured. Suitable products to start with are health-
care products and products for educational purposes, since there is always
an existing demand of these kinds of products.
The possibility to export bamboo products to other South American coun-

tries, North America or Europe is signicant. In the case of exportation it
is extremely important that the products have a high quality which is com-
petitive with existing products on the market. In consequence, the quality
management and quality control of nished products must be highly pri-
oritised. A standardisation of each product should be made to be able to
guarantee that all products of the same type are equally good.
A good organisation, with motivated employees and structured produc-

tion processes, is the foundation of a successfully company and must be a
striving. When a new industry is developed it is important to learn from ex-
isting knowledge, in this case from Asia. It is also a good idea that companies
working with bamboo in Bolivia, share information and knowledge with each
69
other. This is something that in a long run will favour the whole industry
and thereby the country. Long-term planning is important to create healthy
companies that can survive recessions and be competitive, both nationally
and internationally.
Below, the above mentioned suggestions are summarised:
• Suitable location of the company.
• Careful choice of products.
• Start with simple products.
• Export to other countries.
• Structured organisation of the company.
• Learn from existing knowledge.
• Share information within the country.
• Make long-term planning.
70
Chapter 8
Conclusions and
Recommendations
Through tensile-, bending- and hardness tests it was found that Guadua
chacoensis is a exible, medium soft material and is comparable with Euro-
pean oak when it comes to the tensile strength. This leads to the conclusion
that the species can be used for some type of constructions, like houses and
bridges, and for furniture.
It is recommended that Bolivia invests in developing the bamboo industry

in the country. The bamboo business has great potential and can lead to a
new income-source for low-income takers. Furthermore, scientic investiga-
tions ought to be carried out and know-how, concerning bamboo, should be
brought from Asia. If this can be done, the value of the bamboo plant will
be illuminated and the country will be able to take advantage of this natural
resource in a more suitable way.
71
72
Chapter 9
Reections
The following chapter contains the authors' reections about the planning
of the work and the nal results. Suggestions for future work on the subject
are presented.
9.1 Planning of the Work

Already in October 2006, the authors started the planning of this Master
thesis. To start this early was shown to be valuable since the authors were
well prepared arriving in Santa Cruz. Once in Santa Cruz the objective of
the thesis could be decided rather fast and the work could start immediately.
Although the work was well prepared the laboratory tests were delayed one
month. This delay was due to circumstances the authors could not inuence,
for example the access to the laboratory equipment and the preparation of
the specimens that was made by a local carpentry. Besides this delay of the
laboratory tests, the work proceeded very smoothly.
9.2 Final Results

The specimens tested were taken from one single geographic area. It would
have been interesting to test culms from other areas and compare the results.
The soil, climate and growth circumstances might inuence the mechanical
properties. It would have been desirable to carry through other mechanical
properties tests as well. For example compression test and bending test with
whole culms.
The lack of a laboratory standard for bamboo investigations was a prob-

lem when conducting the tests. This also makes it dicult to compare the
73
test results with those from earlier studies of bamboo. An ISO-standard is
currently being developed and when this standard is available it will be easier
to carry through investigations of bamboo.
9.3 Further Work

There is a big lack of available information and knowledge in Bolivia about
bamboo and a lot needs to be done in this area. All work that can be done to
increase the knowledge and illuminate the potential of this material is of great
value for the country. Today there only exist small scale businesses working
with bamboo, mainly based on handicrafts and constructions. The trade
and production of bamboo products is likely to be considerable and have
export prospects. A developed bamboo industry could make a contribution
to the welfare of the country and help to reduce the country's high level of
unemployment.
74
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<http://www.inbar.int/publication/txt/INBAR_Technical_Report_
No03.htm>, Downloaded 2007-08-21
[29] Environmental Bamboo Foundation. 6 Steps to balance your CO2 out-

put, [www]
<http://www.bamboocentral.org/shareinrepair/steps.htm>,
77
[30] Environmental Bamboo Foundation. Why bamboo?, [www]
<http://www.bamboocentral.org/shareinrepair/whybamboo.htm>,
[31] FAO. Proceedings of training of national correspondents on assessing

and monitoring of forest land use and changes, [www]
<http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/j1974e/J1974E35.htm>,
[32] Ford Motor Company. Ford MA concept unveiled at J Mays museum

exhibit opening , [www] <http://media.ford.com/newsroom/
release_display.cfm?release=13738>, Downloaded 2007-10-16
[33] Granta Design Ltd. CES Edupack, [CD], 2007
[34] Heatheravan. Bamboo scaolding, [www]

<http://www.travelpod.com/travel-photo/heatheravan/2005
/1135077360/dsc05588.jpg/tpod.html>, Downloaded 2007-10-16
[35] Meredith, Mike. Chrysler Debuts Akino Concept in

Tokyo, [www] <http://autos.msn.com/as/minishow/article.aspx?
contentID=4023520&s=Tokyo2005>, Downloaded 2007-10-16
[36] International Network for Bamboo and Rattan. Introduction, [www]

<http://www.inbar.int/publication/txt/tr13/INTRODUCTION.htm>,
[37] New England bamboo company. All about bamboo, [www]

<http://www.newengbamboo.com/nebc/care.htm>,
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<http://www.bamboonursery.com/bamboo_color.htm>,
78
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Files/Mechanical%20properties%20of%20bamboo.pdf>,
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Santa Cruz, Bolivia
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Cruz, Bolivia
79
80
Appendix A
Glossary
Bending strength
The limit state of the stress leading to exion of a physical body.
Cadefor
Amazonic Center for Sustainable Forest Enterprise.
Compressive load
The load leading to compression of a physical body.
Cortex
The bark or barque of a plant or tree.
Culm
The trunk or stem of the bamboo plant.
Density
Mass per unit volume.
Diaphragm
The solid cross-wall between two hollow internodes.
Gregarious owering
All bamboo of the same species owers at the same time and the leavs stops
growing.
Inbar
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
81
Internode
The part of the culm or rhizome that lies between two nodes.
Lacuna
The inner space of a hollow internode [6].
Minor eld study

A scholarship founded by Sida and aimed for university students. The schol-
arship nances a eld study in a developing country during eight to ten weeks
with the purpose to create knowledge about developing issues.
Modulus of rupture
The maximum stress at break.
Monopodial
A type of rhizome that is long and has symmetrical internodes more long
than broad.
Node
The piece of the culm or rhizome from were branches or roots orginates. At
the node a cross-section devides the culm.
Parenchyma
Cells that store and distribute food materials [6].
Protoxylem
The rst-formed primary xylem cells, formed as a part of the vascular bundle
[6].
Rhizome
The under ground growing system of stems of a bamboo plant. Two types;
Monopodial and Sympodial.
Root primordia
The rst visible trace of a root.
SD
Standard deviation.
Sheat scar
The mark on the culm were the sheat is interupted and the node is situated.
82
Sida
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, <http://www.sida.se/>.
Specic weight
The weight per unit volume, in other words the density multiplied with the
gravity constant.
Strain
The deformation caused by stress on a physical body.
Sympodial
A type of rhizome that is thick and short with asymmetrical internodes more
broad than long.
Tensile strength
The limit state of the tensile stress.
Tensile stress
The stress state leading to elongation.
UPSA
Private University of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
Vascular bundles
Consists of vessels, protoxylem and phloem surrounded by bre sheaths and
in sympodial bamboos accompanied by bre bundles [6].
Vessels
Large cells arranged in axial series for water conduction [6].
Young's modulus
The ratio, for small strains, of the rate of change of stress with strain.
83
84
Appendix B
German Abstract
Diese Diplomarbeit wurde durch das CTD- Zentrum für Holztechnik und
Design an der Universität Linköping betreut und in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
in Bolivien durchgeführt.
Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es die mechanische Beanspruchung und die
Anwendungen von Guadua chacoensis , einer bolivischen Bambusart, zu un-
tersuchen. Bambus wurde in der Vergangenheit in vielen Ländern für die
unterschiedlichsten Anwendungen wie zum Beispiel Häuser, Werkzeug, Mö-
bel, Lebensmittel, Treibsto und Papier verwendet.
In meisten asiatischen Ländern ist Bambus ein wichtiger Rohsto für

kleine und mittlere Unternehmen. Damit werden Arbeitsplätze geschaf-
fen, was der Bevölkerung hilft die Armutsgrenze zu überwinden. Auch in
Lateinamerika haben viele Länder, wie zum Beispiel Bolivien, die Chance
Bambus in der gleichen Weise zu nutzen. Ein zentraler Gedanke dieser Ar-
beit ist es daher eine Grundlage für die bolivische Wirtschaft zu schaen
damit dieser bislang kaum entwickelte Rohsto genutzt werden kann.
Diese Arbeit wurde von Sida- der Schwedischen Internationalen Entwick-

lungsorganisation, teilweise nanziell unterstützt. Im Rahmen der durchge-
führten Studie wurden sowohl theoretische Aspekte betrachtet, als auch Ver-
suche im Labor der privaten Universität von Santa Cruz de la Sierra durchge-
führt. Des Weiteren wurden verschiedene Arten des Bambus in der Natur
untersucht.
Biege- Streck- und Festigkeitsversuche haben gezeigt, dass Guadua cha-

coensis ein exibles und weiches Material ist. Von den Streckeigenschaften
ist es mit europäischer Eiche zu vergleichen. Diese Ergebnisse führen zu der
85
Schlussfolgerung, dass Guadua chacoensis für die Konstruktion von Häusern
und Brücken, für die Herstellung von Möbeln und andere ähnliche Anwen-
dungen eingesetzt werden kann.
86
Appendix C
Spanish Abstract
Esta tesis ha sido realizada en el Centro de Ciencia de Madera y Diseño-

CTD de la Universidad de Linköping y ha sido llevada a cabo en la ciudad
de Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
El objetivo de la tesis es estudiar los propiedades mecánicas y usos de la

Guadua chacoensis, un bambú nativo de Bolivia. A lo largo de la historia,
el bambú ha sido utilizado en muchas localidades del mundo en distintas
aplicaciones, vale mencionar: viviendas, herramientas, muebles, alimentos,
combustible, papel y para rehabilitación de la tierra. En casi todos los países
Asiáticos el bambú es un recurso importante para empresas de tamaño pe-
queño y mediano, proporcionando empleo y contrarrestando la pobreza.
En América Latina muchos países, incluyendo Bolivia, tienen potencial

para aprovechar el bambú del mismo modo. Una de las ideas más impor-
tantes de la tesis es hacer una contribución para apoyar a la economía de
Bolivia, la cual, hasta ahora, ha desarrollado muy poco este recurso natural.
La tesis es un Minor eld study parcialmente nanciado por Asdi- la

Agencia Sueca de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo. Durante el
Minor eld study estudios teóricos fueron realizados, acumulando informa-
ción nacional e internacional sobre bambú y Guadua chacoensis en particular.
Para examinar los propiedades mecánicos de la Guadua chacoensis, pruebas
de laboratorio fueron preparadas y efectuadas en la Universidad Privada de
Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Asimismo, muchas áreas con bosques naturales
donde crece la especie fueron visitadas.
A través de pruebas de laboratorio de tracción, exión y dureza ha sido

demostrado que la Guadua chacoensis es un material exible y de dureza
87
media, comparable con el roble europeo cuando se trata de la fuerza de
tracción. Eso tiene como resultado que la Guadua chacoensis, entre otros
campos de aplicación, puede ser usada para construcciones, como casas y
puentes, y para la manufacturación de muebles.
88
Appendix D
Results Tensile test Parallel to
Fiber
Date: 24th-29th of August 2007

Name and location of laboratory: UPSA, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Velocity: 1.00 mm/min
Relative humidity: 43 percent
Temperature: 25 Celcius degrees
Botanical name of species: Guadua chacoensis

Air-dried during eight weeks.
89
D.1 Lower Parts of Culms - A
Culm 1
Specimen Width [mm] Thickness [mm]
1APr1 11.3 5.7
1APr2 11.9 5.5
1APr3 11.3 5.5
1APr4 11.6 5.6
Statistics
Mean +1SD 11.81223 5.67074
Mean -1SD 11.23777 5.47926
Mean 11.52500 5.57500
Min 11.3 5.5
Range 0.6 0.2
Max 11.9 5.7
Table D.1: Dimensions of specimens 1A tensile test.
Figure D.1: Diagram of tensile test 1A. All specimens broke at node.
Specimen Max load Tensile stess Extension Area Length Young's

at max load at max load modulus
[N] [MPa] [mm] [cm2 ] [mm] [MPa]
1APr1 8517.70 132.24194 7.38352 0.64410 260 16672.94387
1APr2 4918.50 75.14891 6.64949 0.65450 261 12367.76046
1APr3 6248.65 100.54143 4.05797 0.62150 260 18214.99352
1APr4 2456.95 37.82253 1.01451 0.64960 260 11358.42524
Statistics
Mean+1SD 8069.24 126.38790 7.66160 0.65701 260.75
Mean-1SD 3001.66 46.48951 1.89115 0.62784 259.75
Mean 5535.45 86.43870 4.77637 0.64242 260.25 14653.53077
Min 2456.95 37.82253 1.01451 0.62150 260.00 11358.42524
Range 6060.75 94.41941 6.36902 0.03300 1.00 6856.56828
Max 8517.70 132.24194 7.38352 0.65450 261.00 18214.99352
Table D.2: Result of tensile test 1A.
90
Culm 2
2APr1 11.4 5.5
2APr2 11.6 5.5
2APr3 11.6 5.5
2APr4 11.9 5.2
Statistics
Mean +1SD 11.83116 5.57500
Mean -1SD 11.41884 5.27500
Mean 11.62500 5.42500
Min 11.4 5.2
Range 0.5 0.3
Max 11.9 5.5

2APr1 4579.30 73.03503 5.93638 0.62700 261 9579.79468
2APr2 7432.13 116.49100 8.46763 0.63800 260 8860.51574
2APr3 7110.84 111.45518 7.73192 0.63800 263 8724.88208
2APr4 3971.78 64.18513 3.82701 0.61880 260 8379.05950
Statistics
Mean+1SD 7525.83 117.80977 8.56047 0.63979 262.41 9391.02113
Mean-1SD 4021.19 64.77340 4.42100 0.62111 259.59 8381.10487
Mean 5773.51 91.29159 6.49073 0.63045 261 8886.06300
Min 3971.78 64.18513 3.82701 0.61880 260 8379.05950
Range 3460.35 52.30587 4.64062 0.01920 3 1200.73518
Max 7432.13 116.49100 8.46763 0.63800 263 9579.79468
91
Culm 3
3APr1 11.8 5.5
3APr2 11.8 5.5
3APr3 11.8 5.5
3APr4 11.3 5.5
Statistics
Mean +1SD 11.92500 5.50000
Mean -1SD 11.42500 5.50000
Mean 11.67500 5.50000
Min 11.3 5.5
Range 0.5 0
Max 11.8 5.5

3APr1 4582.91 70.61499 2.80245 0.64900 247 10949.36570
3APr2 5953.65 91.73576 7.07142 0.64900 248 8496.72514
3APr3 5732.63 88.33026 5.26339 0.64900 248 10565.77300
3APr4 5654.89 90.98769 4.47991 0.62150 248 11390.34366
Statistics
Mean+1SD 6092.99 95.39291 6.67660 0.65588 248.25 11631.53309
Mean-1SD 4869.05 75.44144 3.13198 0.62837 247.25 9069.57066
Mean 5481.02 85.41718 4.90429 0.64213 247.75 10350.55188
Min 4582.91 70.61499 2.80245 0.62150 247 8496.72514
Range 1370.74 21.12077 4.26897 0.02750 1 2893.61852
Max 5953.65 91.73576 7.07142 0.64900 248 11390.34366
92
Culm 4
4APr1 11.3 5.5
4APr2 11.9 5.5
4APr3 11.4 5.5
4APr4 11.6 5.5
Statistics
Mean +1SD 11.81458 5.50000
Mean -1SD 11.28542 5.50000
Mean 11.55000 5.50000
Min 11.3 5.5
Range 0.6 0
Max 11.9 5.5

4APr1 4208.09 67.70863 4.02790 0.62150 248 10579.60031
4APr2 3231.78 49.37780 2.01897 0.65450 248 8015.67444
4APr3 4104.83 65.46783 6.73995 0.62700 247 7328.86119
4APr4 5354.22 83.92194 8.64843 0.63800 248 7581.62289
Statistics
Mean+1SD 5095.81 80.75132 8.28314 0.64980 248.25 9872.34777
Mean-1SD 3353.65 52.48678 2.43449 0.62070 247.25 6880.53165
Mean 4224.73 66.61905 5.35881 0.63525 247.75 8376.43971
Min 3231.78 49.37780 2.01897 0.62150 247 7328.86119
Range 2122.44 34.54414 6.62946 0.03300 1.00 3250.73913
Max 5354.22 83.92194 8.64843 0.65450 248 10579.60031
93
Culm 7
7APr1 11.5 5.5
7APr2 11.5 5.5
7APr3 11.3 5.6
7APr4 11.5 5.5
Statistics
Mean +1SD 11.55000 5.57500
Mean -1SD 11.35000 5.47500
Mean 11.45000 5.52500
Min 11.3 5.5
Range 0.2 0.1
Max 11.5 5.6

7APr1 4180.84 66.10021 3.06361 0.63250 250 9868.10710
7APr2 2959.29 46.78724 1.84821 0.63250 248 9841.70472
7APr3 4190.14 66.21579 3.73660 0.63280 248 9559.2700
7APr4 4287.10 67.78021 5.49441 0.63250 248 8955.27084
Statistics
Mean+1SD 4536.20 71.70605 5.05749 0.63272 249.5 9980.32247
Mean-1SD 3272.48 51.73568 2.01394 0.63243 257.5 9131.85388
Mean 3904.34 61.72086 3.53571 0.63258 248.5 9556.08817
Min 2959.29 46.78724 1.84821 0.63250 248 8955.27084
Range 1327.81 20.99297 3.64620 0.00030 2 912.83625
Max 4287.10 67.78021 5.49441 0.63280 250 9868.10710
94
D.2 Upper Parts of Culm - B
Culm 1
1BPr2 10.2 7.5
1BPr4 10.7 7.0
Statistics
Mean +1SD 10.66056 7.48426
Mean -1SD 9.93944 6.58241
Mean 10.30000 7.03333
Min 10.0 6.6
Range 0.7 0.9
Max 10.7 7.5
Mean 10.45000 7.25000
Min 10.2 7.0
Range 0.5 0.5
Max 10.7 7.5
Table D.11: Dimensions of specimens 1B tensile test.
Figure D.6: Diagram of tensile test 1B. Specimen two and four broke at node
and specimen one and three were discontinued.

1BPr2 6488.89 84.82208 10.91744 0.76500 247 3356.51287
1BPr4 8349.29 111.47245 12.12698 0.74900 261 5817.51831
Statistics
Mean 7419.09 98.14727 11.52221 0.75700 254 4587.01559
Min 6488.89 84.82208 10.91744 0.74900 247 3356.51287
Range 1860.40 26.65037 1.20954 0.01600 14 2461.00544
Max 8349.29 111.47245 12.12698 0.76500 261 5817.51831
Table D.12: Result of tensile test 1B.
95
Culm 2
2BPr1 9.2 6.9
2BPr2 10.8 5.9
2BPr3 11.1 7.5
Statistics
Mean +1SD 11.38810 7.57496
Mean -1SD 9.34523 5.95838
Mean 10.36667 6.76667
Min 9.2 7.5
Range 1.9 1.6
Max 11.1 7.5
Figure D.7: Diagram of tensile test 2B. All specimes broke at node. Specimen
four was not tested due to poor sample.

2BPr1 6691.06 105.40430 8.05239 0.63480 260 8495.33129
2BPr2 6650.45 104.36997 8.74882 0.63720 260 6859.84270
2BPr3 7945.68 95.44366 13.37479 0.83250 256 3601.63308
Statistics
Mean+1SD 7832.09 107.21598 12.95155 0.81496 260.98 8810.22167
Mean-1SD 6359.38 96.26264 7.16578 0.58804 256.36 3827.64971
Mean 7095.73 101.73931 10.05866 0.70150 258.67 6318.93569
Min 6650.45 95.44366 8.05239 0.63480 256 3601.63308
Range 1295.23 9.96064 5.32240 0.19770 4 4893.69821
Max 7945.68 105.40430 13.37479 0.83250 260 8495.33129
96
Culm 3
3BPr2 9.5 6.7
3BPr3 10.9 6.7
3BPr4 9.9 6.9
Statistics
Mean +1SD 10.82111 6.88214
Mean -1SD 9.37889 6.65120
Mean 10.10000 6.76667
Min 9.5 6.7
Range 1.4 0.2
Max 10.9 6.9
Figure D.8: Diagram of tensile test 3B. All specimens broke at node. Speci-
men one was not tested due to poor sample.

3BPr2 4060.53 63.79463 8.48772 0.63650 257 6962.57981
3BPr3 9711.61 132.98109 4.71494 0.73030 261 20359.30561
3BPr4 5925.72 86.74753 9.70312 0.68310 261 12683.04792
Statistics
Mean+1SD 9445.38 129.74775 10.23631 0.73020 261.98
Mean-1SD 3686.53 59.26775 5.03420 0.63640 257.36
Mean 6565.95 94.50775 7.63526 0.68330 259.67 13334.97778
Min 4060.53 63.79463 4.71494 0.63650 257 6962.57981
Range 5651.08 69.18646 4.98818 0.09380 4 13396.72580
Max 9711.61 132.98109 9.70312 0.73030 261 20359.30561
97
Culm 4
4BPr1 11.6 5.8
4BPr2 10.0 6.6
4BPr4 11.0 5.7
Statistics
Mean +1SD 11.67496 6.52662
Mean -1SD 10.05838 5.54005
Mean 10.86667 6.03333
Min 10.0 5.7
Range 1.6 0.9
Max 11.6 6.6
Figure D.9: Diagram of tensile test 4B. Specimen two and four broke at node.
Specimen three was not tested due to poor sample.

4BPr1 6634.16 98.60520 4.26897 0.67280 261 15409.02030
4BPr2 5969.64 90.44917 10.05641 0.66000 260 14998.25098
4BPr4 8231.92 131.29060 6.42701 0.62700 260 17913.20459
Statistics
Mean+1SD 8108.02 128.39523 9.84219 0.67690 260.91
Mean-1SD 5782.46 85.16808 3.99274 0.62964 259.76
Mean 6945.24 106.78166 6.91746 0.65327 260.33 16106.82529
Min 5969.64 90.44917 4.26897 0.62700 260 14998.25098
Range 2262.28 40.84144 5.78744 0.04580 1 2914.95361
Max 8231.92 131.29060 10.05641 0.67280 261 17913.20459
98
Culm 7
7BPr2 10.7 5.0
7BPr3 11.6 5.5
7BPr4 9.5 5.0
Statistics
Mean +1SD 11.65357 5.45534
Mean -1SD 9.54643 4.87799
Mean 10.60000 5.16667
Min 9.5 5.0
Range 2.1 0.5
Max 11.6 5.5
Figure D.10: Diagram of tensile test 7B. Specimen three and four broke at
node. Specimen one was not tested due to poor sample.

7BPr2 9774.46 182.71881 10.78507 0.53500 248 19984.22070
7BPr3 10126.65 158.72493 8.49854 0.63800 247 19883.45728
7BPr4 4349.83 91.57534 1.19531 0.47500 248 20660.27855
Statistics
Mean+1SD 11323.61 191.58358 11.83511 0.63177 248.24
Mean-1SD 4845.35 97.09581 1.81750 0.46689 247.09
Mean 8083.98 144.33969 6.82631 0.54933 247.67 20175.98551
Min 4349.83 91.57534 1.19531 0.47500 247 19883.45728
Range 5776.82 91.14347 9.58976 0.16300 1 776.82127
Max 10126.65 182.71881 10.78507 0.63800 248 20660.27855
99
100
Appendix E
Results Bending Test
Date: 13th and 18th of September 2007

Relative humidity: 47 percent and 40 percent
Temperature: 22 Celcius degrees and 23 Celcius degrees

Moisture quotient: 17 percent, air-dried during a period of twelve weeks.
101
Specimen Width [mm] Thickness [mm] Length [mm]
Pr1 25 8 360
Pr2 25 8 360
Pr3 25 8 360
Pr4 25 6 360
Pr5 25 6 360
Table E.1: Dimensions of specimens bending test 1-5.
Figure E.1: Diagram of bending test 1-5.
Specimen Max compres- Extension at Load at Compressive Modulus

sive load max compres- break extension at of rupture
[N] sive load [mm] [N] break [mm] [MPa]
Pr1 216.32 56.37 156.15153 92.68 0.40
Pr2 425.73 21.75 79.39923 52.98 1.07
Pr3 381.78 22.77 69.96184 62.61 1.07
Pr4 248.41 24.65 69.97135 57.54 0.60
Pr5 209.19 28.53 122.70779 71.85 0.46
Statistics
Mean 296.29 30.81 99.63835 67.53 0.72
SD 100.41986 14.51672 38.39397 15.70800 0.32785
Min 216.32 21.75 69.96184 52.98 0.40
Range 216.54 34.62 86.18968 39.70 0.67
Max 425.73 56.73 156.15153 92.68 1.07
Table E.2: Result of bending test 1-5.
102
Pr6 25 8 360
Pr7 25 8 360
Pr8 25 6 360
Pr9 25 6 360

Pr6 248.79 25.87 216.16959 30.95 32.25
Pr7 418.62 29.73 323.10907 32.13 33.62
Pr8 256.01 28.40 70.71493 55.83 19.86
Pr9 268.06 40.02 70.33463 55.83 18.02
Statistics
Mean 297.87 31.00 170.08206 37.24 25.94
SD 80.88987 6.21864 122.96978 12.42379 8.13542
Min 248.79 25.87 70.33463 30.05 18.02
Range 169.83 6.21864 252.77444 25.78 15.60
Max 418.62 40.02 323.10907 55.83 33.62
103
Pr10 25 8 360
Pr11 25 8 360
Pr12 25 6 360
Pr13 25 6 360

Pr10 293.35 26.07 71.15418 28.52 25.61
Pr11 291.51 26.17 254.18093 28.60 25.36
Pr12 228.69 35.13 69.92128 35.41 16.76
Pr13 279.42 30.15 167.58405 35.23 21.85
Statistics
Mean 273.24 29.38 140.71011 31.94 22.39
SD 30.33637 4.28167 88.40611 3.90969 4.13034
Min 228.69 26.07 69.92128 28.52 16.76
Range 64.66 9.07 184.25966 6.90 8.85
Max 293.35 35.13 254.18093 35.41 25.61
104
Pr14 25 8 360
Pr15 25 8 360
Pr16 25 6 360
Pr17 25 6 360

Pr14 253.91 15.73 115.52852 47.93 32.26
Pr15 354.64 25.50 268.42335 28.40 33.47
Pr16 220.45 51.47 96.66248 53.43 11.84
Pr17 178.33 21.78 69.95977 40.16 18.25
Statistics
Mean 251.83 28.62 137.64353 42.48 23.95
SD 75.19349 15.75345 89.16833 10.84990 10.62664
Min 178.33 15.73 69.95977 28.40 11.84
Range 176.32 35.73 198.46358 25.03 21.62
Max 354.64 51.47 268.42335 53.43 33.47
105
Pr18 25 8 360
Pr19 25 8 360
Pr20 25 6 360
Pr21 25 6 360

Pr18 484.40 28.03 291.89677 37.48 42.48
Pr19 386.39 43.35 274.38228 47.22 27.95
Pr20 272.36 24.35 70.82636 25.40 24.84
Pr21 181.41 44.45 88.45882 45.63 11.09
Statistics
Mean 331.14 35.05 181.39106 38.93 26.59
SD 132.18432 10.34367 117.92630 9.97913 12.88067
Min 181.41 24.35 70.82636 25.40 11.09
Range 303.00 20.10 221.07041 21.82 31.39
Max 484.40 44.45 291.89677 47.22 42.48
106
Appendix F
Results Hardness Test
Perpendicular to Fiber
Date: 3rd and 6th of September 2007

Diameter of steel ball: 11.5 mm
Relative humidity: 54 percent and 66 percent
Temerature: 22 Celcius degrees

Air-dried during nine weeks.
107
F.1 Lower Parts of Culm - A
Culm 1
Figure F.1: Diagram of hardness test 1A I.
Figure F.2: Diagram of hardness test 1A II.
108
Specimen Max load Max compressive Diameter of Hardness Brinell
extension impression
[N] [mm] [mm] [HB]
1APr1 I 1850.98 3.02 10.12119 1.73021
1APr1 II 3459.18 3.01 10.11037 3.24422
1APr2 I 3566.02 3.04 10.14266 3.31142
1APr2 II 3102.35 3.03 10.11037 2.90956
1APr3 I 2149.79 3.03 10.13195 2.00289
1APr3 II 1517.97 3.02 10.12119 1.41893
1APr4 I 2390.89 3.01 10.11037 2.24231
1APr4 II 2536.71 3.03 10.13195 2.36337
Statistics
Mean 2571.735 3.025 10.12251 2.40286
Min 1517.97 3.01 10.11037 1.41893
Max 3566.02 3.04 10.14266 3.31142
Table F.1: Result of hardness test 1A.
109
Culm 2
110
[N] [mm] [mm] [HB]
2APr1 I 2751.99 3.02 10.121186 2.57243
2APr1 II 2708.84 3.02 10.121186 2.53209
2APr2 I 3064.21 3.04 10.14266 2.84543
2APr2 II 2945.04 3.01 10.11037 2.76203
2APr3 I 2983.25 3.01 10.11037 2.79786
2APr3 II 2988.36 3.03 10.13195 2.78416
2APr4 I 2933.54 3.01 10.11037 2.75124
2APr4 II 2799.98 3.02 10.12119 2.61729
Statistics
Mean 2896.905 3.02 10.12116 2.70782
Min 2708.84 3.01 10.11037 2.53209
Max 3064.21 3.04 10.14266 2.84543
111
Culm 3
112
[N] [mm] [mm] [HB]
3APr1 I 2435.25 3.02 10.12119 2.27636
3APr1 II 2077.06 3.02 10.12119 1.94154
3APr2 I 3059.74 3.02 10.12119 2.86010
3APr2 II 2873.23 3.01 10.11037 2.69468
3APr3 I 2230.41 3.04 10.14266 2.07116
3APr3 II 1945.19 3.02 10.12119 1.81827
3APr4 I 2864.06 3.04 10.14266 2.65957
3APr4 II 3031.18 3.03 10.13195 2.82405
Statistics
Mean 2564.515 3.025 10.12655 2.39322
Min 1945.19 3.01 10.11037 1.81827
Max 3059.74 3.04 10.14266 2.86010
113
Culm 4
114
[N] [mm] [mm] [HB]
4APr1 I 2043.31 3.04 10.14266 1.89742
4APr1 II 1345.96 3.04 10.14266 1.24986
4APr2 I 1487.09 3.01 10.11037 1.39468
4APr2 II 1133.69 3.01 10.11037 1.06324
4APr3 I 1684.17 3.04 10.14266 1.56392
4APr3 II 2024.60 3.03 10.13195 1.88625
4APr4 I 2086.34 3.01 10.11037 1.95669
4APr4 II 1885.20 3.04 10.14266 1.75060
Statistics
Mean 1711.29 3.025 10.12921 1.59533
Min 1133.69 3.01 10.11037 1.06324
Max 2086.34 3.04 10.14266 1.95669
115
Culm 7
116
[N] [mm] [mm] [HB]
7APr1 I 2107.30 3.04 10.14266 1.95684
7APr1 II 2369.11 3.03 10.13195 2.20722
7APr2 I 1795.27 3.04 10.14266 1.66710
7APr2 II 2764.05 3.03 10.13195 2.57518
7APr3 I 2154.01 3.03 10.13195 2.00682
7APr3 II 3196.13 3.02 10.12119 2.98759
7APr4 I 2792.16 3.01 10.11037 2.61865
7APr4 II 2740.50 3.02 10.12119 2.56169
Statistics
Mean 2489.815 3.03 10.12924 2.32264
Min 1795.27 3.01 10.11037 1.66710
Max 3196.13 3.04 10.14266 2.98759
Table F.5: Result of hardness test 7.A
117
F.2 Upper Parts of Culm - B
Culm 1
Figure F.11: Diagram of hardness test 1B I.
Figure F.12: Diagram of hardness test 1B II.
118
[N] [mm] [mm] [HB]
1BPr1 I 464.21 1.04 6.59648 1.26004
1BPr1 II 299.19 1.03 6.56783 0.82000
1BPr2 I 336.84 1.01 6.50996 0.94147
1BPr2 II 616.31 1.03 6.56783 1.68914
1BPr3 I 425.19 1.03 6.56783 1.16533
1BPr3 II 298.15 1.02 6.53899 0.82516
1BPr4 I 339.99 1.02 6.53899 0.94096
1BPr4 II 237.44 1.02 6.53899 0.65714
Statistics
Mean 377.165 1.025 6.55336 1.03740
Min 237.44 1.01 6.50996 0.65714
Max 616.31 1.04 6.59648 1.68914
Table F.6: Result of hardness test 1B.
119
Culm 2
120
[N] [mm] [mm] [HB]
2BPr1 I 703.72 1.04 6.59648 1.91016
2BPr1 II 315.42 1.04 6.59648 0.85617
2BPr2 I 1017.08 1.02 6.53899 2.81487
2BPr2 II 907.74 1.04 6.59648 2.46395
2BPr3 I 990.11 1.02 6.53899 2.74023
2BPr3 II 473.33 1.03 6.56783 1.29727
2BPr4 I 719.52 1.02 6.53899 1.99134
2BPr4 II 536.79 1.04 6.59648 1.45705
Statistics
Mean 707.965 1.03 6.57134 1.94138
Min 315.42 1.02 6.53899 0.85617
Max 1017.08 1.04 6.59648 2.81487
121
Culm 3
Figure F.15: Diagram of hardness test 3B I. Specimen four was not tested
due to poor sample.
Figure F.16: Diagram of hardness test 3B II. Specimen four was not tested
due to poor sample.
122
[N] [mm] [mm] [HB]
3BPr1 I 591.00 1.04 6.59648 1.60420
3BPr1 II 836.32 1.04 6.59648 2.27009
3BPr2 I 570.63 1.01 6.50996 1.59491
3BPr2 II 520.75 1.02 6.53899 1.44123
3BPr3 I 675.40 1.03 6.56783 1.85109
3BPr3 II 612.14 1.04 6.59648 1.66158
Statistics
Mean 634.37 1.025 6.56771 1.73718
Min 520.75 1.01 6.50996 1.44123
Max 836.32 1.04 6.59648 2.27009
123
Culm 4
124
[N] [mm] [mm] [HB]
4BPr1 I 552.29 1.02 6.53899 1.52852
4BPr1 II 324.19 1.01 6.50996 0.90611
4BPr2 I 393.93 1.01 6.50996 1.10104
4BPr2 II 183.65 1.02 6.53899 0.50827
4BPr3 I 434.62 1.04 6.59648 1.17972
4BPr3 II 435.43 1.03 6.56783 1.19340
4BPr4 I 564.26 1.02 6.53899 1.56165
4BPr4 II 229.75 1.03 6.56783 0.62968
Statistics
Mean 389.765 1.02 6.54613 1.07605
Min 183.65 1.01 6.50996 0.50827
Max 564.26 1.04 6.59648 1.56165
125
Culm 7
126
[N] [mm] [mm] [HB]
7BPr1 I 676.70 1.04 6.59648 1.83682
7BPr1 II 290.71 1.04 6.59648 0.78910
7BPr2 I 530.28 1.02 6.53899 1.46760
7BPr2 II 476.25 1.04 6.59648 1.29272
7BPr3 I 781.50 1.04 6.59648 2.12129
7BPr3 II 505.69 1.01 6.50996 1.41340
7BPr4 I 621.08 1.01 6.50996 1.73592
7BPr4 II 196.04 1.03 6.56783 0.53729
Statistics
Mean 509.780 1.03 6.56409 1.39927
Min 196.04 1.01 6.50996 0.53729
Max 781.50 1.04 6.59648 2.12129
127

Guadua Chacoensis en Bolivia

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Guadua Chacoensis en Bolivia

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Guadua chacoensis in Bolivia

-an investigation of mechanical properties of a

Examiner: Stig-Inge Gustafsson

Department of Management and Engineering

Syftet med detta examensarbete är att studera de mekaniska egenskaperna

Detta examensarbete är en Minor eld study, delvis nansierad av Sida,

The objective of this thesis is to study the mechanical properties and

Through tensile-, bending- and hardness test it is found that Guadua

Our gratefulness also goes to Gabriella A. Pinaya Johannessen at Cadefor,

We would also like to thank Sida, Ansgarius-stiftelsen and Sparbanksstif-

2 Bamboo -a Woody Grass 5

3 Method and Performance 35

6 Laboratory Tests of Guadua Chacoensis 53

8 Conclusions and Recommendations 71

E Results Bending Test 101

2.1 Rhizomes of a sympodial bamboo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

3.1 Mind map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

4.1 Bolivia's main bamboo growing regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

5.1 Culms of Guadua chacoensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

6.1 Mechanical properties testing machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

E.1 Diagram of bending test 1-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

F.1 Diagram of hardness test 1A I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

2.1 Mechanical properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

6.1 Result of tensile test part A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

7.1 Table for comparison of tensile properties. . . . . . . . . . . . 64

D.1 Dimensions of specimens 1A tensile test. . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

E.1 Dimensions of specimens bending test 1-5. . . . . . . . . . . . 102

F.1 Result of hardness test 1A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Innovation and research are leading to development of new modern uses

During several years the University of Linköping has been cooperating

1.3 Thesis Structure

• Chapter one, Introduction, is a short description of the thesis and its

• Chapter two, Bamboo -a Woody Grass, contains facts and theories

• Chapter three, Method and Performance, describes the Research Ap-

• Chapter four, Bamboo in Bolivia, introduces the reader to bamboo in

• Chapter six, Laboratory Tests of Guadua Chacoensis, describes the lab-

• Chapter eight, Conclusions and Recommendations, after the analysis

• Chapter nine, Reections, presents the authors reections about the

The nine chapters are followed by a Bibliography and Appendices.

1.4 Reading Instructions

In the bibliography, the references are sorted alphabetically in the follow-

In the following chapter a frame of reference will be presented in order to cre-

2.1 Brief Bamboo History

Bamboo is a plant that plays an important role in the daily life

Many Asian cultures believe that humanity originate from a bamboo

2.2 The Plant

Figure 2.2: A split internode.

Figure 2.3: A node from a young bamboo culm.

Premature culm: This stage of maturity is characterized by the fading

• Erosion. Bamboo grows fast, and in a short time develops

In the study one minor negative impact was found:

• Bamboo Guadua is found to have a slight negative eect on

2.3 World Distribution

Figure 2.6: World distribution of bamboo [31].

Figure 2.7: White, blue and black bamboo [40].

2.4.1 Sympodial Bamboos

Three well known sympodial bamboos are:

Dendrocalamus strictus: Dendrocalamus strictus is the most broadly dis-

2.4.2 Monopodial Bamboos

Arundinaria amabilis: The Arundinaria amabilis is from southern China

Phyllostachys bambusoides: More than 60 percent of the bamboo harvest

Phyllostachys nigra: This species is a native to China. In the end of its

2.5 Cultivation, Curing and Harvesting

The bamboo should be planted as small plants, cuttings or osets, at

Detta examensarbete är en Minor eld study, delvis nansierad av Sida,

• Chapter nine, Reections, presents the authors reections about the

• Bamboo Guadua is found to have a slight negative eect on

The bamboo should be planted as small plants, cuttings or osets, at

The nodes have an immense inuence on the mechanical strength of the

2.7 Renement Techniques

Janssen[5], arranges the dierent joints into eight groups, depending on

Janssen[5], further tells that scaoldings made of jointed bamboo culms,

Bamboo can be rened in small craft based companies at village level

Scaolding: In many countries in Asia is bamboo used for construction

Cases are known wherein bamboo scaolds survived hurricanes

In spite of these advantages, bamboo scaolding faces strong competition

Laminate: A future possible large eld of application is laminate. New

To be able to ocially exploit bamboo, and other forest products, a per-