Determination of the mechanical properties of Dendrocalamus asper (giant bamboo)

With the resource depletion of timber and the need for more sustainable construction materials, there is a need to consider alternative construction material such as bamboo. Giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper) is a fast growing and cheap resource which is abundant in the Philippines. However, its mechanical properties especially tensile strength perpendicular, tensile strength parallel, compression strength parallel, and shear strength parallel to the fibers are not yet established. So that it can be used for structural application, the mechanical properties of bamboo can be determined using standardized tests by the International Organization for Standardization and American Society for Testing Materials. The tensile strength perpendicular to the fiber produced using the modified Columbia procedure was 6.14 MPa, while 9.00 MPa using ISO 22157-1 procedure. The tensile trength parallel to the fiber was 269.86 MPa using the modified ASTM D-143 procedure. In the procedure using ISO 22157-1, the tensile strength is 312.78 MPa using hardwood for the tabs and 424.43 MPa using softwood as tabs. Using ISO 22157-1, the compression strength parallel to the fiber for samples without node was 63.42 MPa, while 55.55 MPa for samples with node. Lastly, the shear strength parallel to the fiber for samples without node was 10.64 MPa, while 11.87 MPa for samples with node