Assessment of the Suitability of Timber Products as Concrete Reinforcement Bars in Green Buildings

This study considered the use of three locally available materials as a replacement for carbon steel reinforcement bar in reinforced concrete. Melina, Opepe and Bamboo specimens were obtained, prepared and subjected to six structural tests. Three specimens each were prepared for each test giving a total of 54 specimens. Hounsfield tensometer was used to carry out the structural tests. Tensile strength, Compressive strength, Shear strength, Charpy impact, Brinell’s hardness and Flexural tests were carried out. Results showed that Melina had the highest Compressive strength of 16.250 N/mm2, which is approximately 6.5% that of carbon steel. The highest Flexural strength was 77.097 N/mm2 which is approximately 4.406% that of carbon steel while the highest Hardness strength was 78.733 HB 5/1000, which is approximately 65.611% that of carbon steel. Opepe had the highest shear strength of 70.721 N/mm2 which is approximately 30.1% that of carbon steel and the highest impact strength of 8.874 J/cm which is approximately 13.09% that of carbon steel. Bamboo had the highest tensile strength of 138.158 N/ mm2 which is approximately 33.66% that of carbon steel. It was concluded that Melina is the best alternative of the three materials, but would be an unsuitable, unsafe and weaker reinforcement alternative to carbon steel