NON-CONENVENTIONAL

TECHNOLOGY
BAMBOO ARCHITECTURE

Submited by :
Dhanashri Ramdas Munde
Fourth year B. Arch.
Section a
Roll no 150020
NON-CONVENTIONAL TECHNOLOGY
• It describes the utilization of natural resources, which are easily
available ,in the development of new materials and technologies.
• It is aim at materials that combine advantages which can fulfil the
expectation of the construction industry in different areas.
• These includes technical performance compatible with intended
application, strength within an expected service life, economical
viability, environmental preservation, and health and comfort of the
built environment.
• It contains non polluting materials, which consume little energy in
their production and utilization
Non conventional materials
• Bamboo
• Earth
• Seaweed
• Turf/sod
• Algae
• Cementitious composite reinforced with vegetable and hybrid fibres
• Residues of agriculture and industry for geopolymerization
• Cement based on alkali activated furnace slag
• Cement based on alkali activated fly ash
BAMBOO
• The role of bamboo in construction hs been substantial everywhere it
goes naturally.
• It has strength, flexibility and versatility and therefore it is a suitable
material for practically every part of the house when treated and
used property.
• It is very economical because it is a local product and therefore the
cheapest building material.
• Cultivating bamboo can have very high yields if managed properly.
• Bamboo can be used as substitute for timber in many application.
• Compared to tree used for that timber, bamboo grows substantially
faster.
• It can contribute to a solution for the deforestation that is at the
present causing concerns for the environment.
• Bamboo as a building material has high compressive strength and low
weight has been one of the most used building material as support
for concrete, especially in those locations where it is found in
abundance.
• Bamboo as a building material is used for the construction of
scaffolding, bridges and structures, houses.
• Bamboo as a building material is conventionally associated with the
region of Southeast Asia and South America where climate is best
suitable for its cultivation.
Various Structural Shapes of Bamboo as a Building
Material
Bamboos are treated in such a way that they assume desired shapes
and structures while they grow:
• Squared cross-section can be obtained by compressing the growing
stalk of bamboo within a square section.
• Arch shapes of bamboo can also be created by compressing the
bamboo’s growth into the desired shape. This would cost lesser than
it would to get the same form with normal timber.
• Curved and Flat shapes of bamboo are achieved through traditional
techniques like applying heat and pressure.
Methods of Working on Bamboo

• For a bamboo to be used as a building material, it must be worked on

to create desired shape, bend and length to be used for structural or
other purposes.
Following are the different works involved with use of bamboo:
• Splitting
• Shaping
• Bending
Splitting of Bamboo

• The bamboo canes are split into halves or quarter sections using a
knife ideal for the job and setting them apart by a wedge. About four
or eight segments can be acquired which are used as canes, strips or
battens. Canes can be peeled to make strings and ropes up to the age
of 18 months.
 Shaping of Bamboo
• Even though bamboos are naturally circular in form but if they are
grown in a box of square shape they acquire a shape as desired.
Bending of Bamboo

• Bamboos can be bent while they are freshly cut by heating

them above the temperature of 150° C. Bamboo will retain this
shape even after cooling and drying off.
• Preservation of Bamboo
• A thorough treatment of Bamboo is required to protect it against
insects and rot before it is put into use. Commonly a mixture of Borax
and Boric acid are utilized for this purpose. Another procedure
generally employed is to boil cut bamboo to remove the starches that
draw insects.
• Bamboo as a Building Material
There is very limited use of bamboo as foundation material because
when in contact with moisture laden surface they decay fast. However,
this issue can be tackled to quite an extent though proper treatment
using appropriate chemicals.
The various types of foundations constructed
with bamboo are:
• a) Bamboo which is in direct contact with ground surface.
• b) Bamboo fixed to rock or preformed concrete footings
• c) Composite bamboo or concrete columns
• d) Bamboo piles
Bamboos are used in various shapes and forms to
build foundation. Some of the common shapes of
bamboos are:
a) Flattened bamboo shape which is acquired by splitting freshly cut
bamboo stalks and then rolling and flattening them.
b) Bamboo mats as thin as 5-6mm or 10-15mm in size are woven
according to design prerequisite. Phenolic resins are used in structures
employing bamboo mats.
c) Bamboo plastic composite is a pioneering technology in which
bamboo fiber as raw material is blended with plastic as the core
material. These mats are highly resistant to moisture and structurally
more stable.
Walls Construction with Bamboo as a Building
Material
• Bamboo is extensively used for construction of walls and partitions.
Posts and beams are the main elements normally constructed with
bamboo provide structural framework for walls. They positioned in a
way to be able to withstand forces of nature. An infill is used between
framing elements to add strength and stability to the walls.
Roofing with Bamboo as a Building Material

• Bamboo is one of the best roofing materials and provides ample

sturdiness to the structure. It is a proven shield against forces of
nature or animals and are considerably light weighted which makes
them easy to install. The bamboo roofs encompass purlins, rafters
and trusses.
Scaffolding with Bamboo as a Building Material

• Due to advantageous properties of bearing heavy load bamboos are

considered as one of the highly-endorsed materials for scaffolding
even for tall structures.
• For the construction of scaffolding, cane extensions are obtained by
lashing cane ends using several ropes. The ties are positioned in such
a way that forces acting vertically downwards lodge the nodes in the
lashing.
• This technique has immense significance since the joints can be re-
aligned in the right degree.
Advantages of Bamboo as a Building Material
• The various advantages of bamboo are as mentioned below:
• Tensile strength: Bamboo has higher tensile strength than steel because its fibers run
axially.
• Fire Resistance: Capability of bamboo to resist fire is very high and it can withstand
temperature up to 4000 C. This is due to the presence of high value of silicate acid and
water.
• Elasticity: Bamboo is widely preferred in earthquake prone regions due to its elastic
features.
• Weight of bamboo: Bamboos due to their low weight are easily displaced or installed
making it very easier for transportation and construction.
• Unlike other building materials like cement and asbestos, bamboo poses no danger to
health.
• They are cost effective and easy to use.
• They are especially in great demand in earthquake prone areas.
Disadvantages of Bamboo

• Bamboos come with their own set of drawbacks such as:

• They require preservation
• Shrinkage: Bamboo shrinks much greater than any other type of
timber especially when it loses water.
• Durability: Bamboo should be sufficiently treated against insect or
fungus attack before being utilized for building purposes.
• Jointing: Despite prevalence of various techniques of jointing,
structural reliability of bamboo is questionable.
 BOOK CASE STUDY

Sombra Verde's 3D Printed Bamboo Structure

Bridges
Design: AirLab, Singapore University of
Technology and Design
Location: Singapore
Team: Yuxin He, Sourabh Maheshwari, Tay
Jenn Chong, Aurelia Chan, Anna Toh Hui
Ping, Sihan Wang, Mohit Arora
• Bridging the gap between the old
and the new is never easy.
Traditional building methods,
where you often adjust to the
unpredictability of a natural
material, seem to contrast with
the mechanical precision of
modern construction
• Sombra Verde - a bamboo gazebo
developed
by AIRLABand Singapore
University of Technology and
Design (SUTD) as part of
Singapore’s Urban Design Festival
2018 - bridges this gap
• The traditional
raw bamboo poles, used
extensively
throughout Southeast Asia,
are combined with 3D
printed connectors, utilizing a
series of new technologies
• The result is an iconic,
lightweight structure
in Singapore’s Duxton Plain
Park that promotes the use
of public space, sheltering the
population from both the
intense sun and heavy rain.
• By their very nature, bamboo poles
vary in cross-section, thickness, and
bend. In response to this, digital
measurements were vital in
achieving this structure. Each of the
117 poles were cut to length and
digitized by the team. The
information was then used to
calculate the structural capacity and
consequently its optimal position
within the structure.
• The data was then used in the design
and fabrication of the 36 bespoke
connecting pieces, and the material
PLA was used to 3D print each
individual element. An inexpensive and
sustainable plant-based polymer, PLA’s
properties make for an economical
printing process, while the seamless,
plastic node tightens on connection
with the bamboo, the planned rotation
enabling the structure to act as one
• The pavilion measures 8.50 x
6.50 meters with a height of
3.00 meters and weighs less
than 150kg. Its transparent,
green,
cellular polycarbonate roof
rests carefully upon the
network of bamboo beneath,
which itself meets the ground
gracefully on three inverted
tripod columns