Bamboo introduction and overview in construction

Introduction to bamboo, overview to bamboo, uses, cuts, construction techniques and methods

1. ◤
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BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONAND
MATERIALS_VIIsem.
BAMBOO

2. ◤
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INTRODUCTION
TO
BAMBOO

3. INTRODUCTION
Bambooisoneof theoldesttraditionalbuildingmaterialsusedbymankind.They arethelargest
membersofthegrassfamilyandarethefastest-growingintheworld.
It is estimated that there are 1200 species of bamboo. Most of them grow in Asia, Africa and Latin
America.
•Cangrowfourfeet-withina24hourperiod.(Bamboogrowsthreetimesfasterthanmostotherspecies)
•EconomicandculturalsignificanceinSouthAsia,SoutheastAsia andEastAsia
•Usedforbuildingmaterials,asafoodsource,andasaversatilerawproduct.
•Itisusedtomaketraps,cages,tools,weapons,bridges,rafts,towers,fences,waterwheels,irrigationpipe,
andthousandsofotheritems,sinceages.
•Itiswidely recognizedasoneofthemostimportantnon-timberforestresourcesduetothehigh
socioeconomicbenefitsfrombamboobasedproducts.
•Thisisasubstitutebuildingmaterial(especiallyforwood),whichisrenewable,environmentfriendlyandwidely
available,growsrapidly,adaptabletomostclimaticconditionsanddueitsproperties.
•Introducedintothebanksorstreamsorinothervulnerableareas,forrapidcontrolofsoilerosion;one
bambooplantscloselymattedrootscanbindup tosix cubicmetersofsoil.
•Cost-effective andgrownabundantly.
Therefore,bambooemergesasaverysuitable alternative.
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Reference:Bambooasa BuildingMaterial_Ar.DheneshRaj,Ar.Bindu Agarwal

4. USEOFBAMBOO
<30daysitisgood
foreating.
6-9months forbaskets. 2-3yearsforbambooboards
or laminations.
(a)LaminatedBamboo,
(b)BambooOriented StrandBoard
(c)LaminatedBambooEsterillaSheet,
(d)BambooVeneerBoard
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Reference:Bambooasa BuildingMaterial_Ar.DheneshRaj,Ar.Bindu Agarwal
3-6yearsforconstruction.
>6yearsbamboo
graduallyloses
strengthup to12 years
old.

5. PARTSOFBAMBOO
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Reference:Bambooasa BuildingMaterial_Ar.DheneshRaj,Ar.Bindu Agarwal

6. WHYSHOULDBAMBOOBEUSEDASA
BUILDINGMATERIAL?
•Itisfastest-growingrenewablenaturalbuildingmaterial.
•Thematerialiseasily available&Ecofriendly.
•Bambooisa viable alternativeforsteel,concreteandmasonryasanindependentbuildingmaterial.
•Itiscost effectiveand easy towork.
•Itcanbeeasilybend,givedesiredshapeandcanprovidejointstosuittheconstruction.
•Itsenormouselasticitymakesitaveryusefulbuildingmaterialinareaswithveryhigh risksofearthquakes.
•Localavailablematerialtosomeareas,whichtriestocarrythelocal tradition&vernacularArchitectureof
thatplace.
-Has averyhigh elasticmodulus
-Hasahighercompressivestrengththanwood,brickorconcrete
-HasaTensilestrengththatrivalssteel.
(Insidethesilicateouterskin,axialparallelelasticallyfiberswithatensilestrengthupto
400N/mm2canbefound.)
(extremelystrongwood fiberscanresistatensionup to50 N/mm2)
•Thefireresistanceisverygoodbecauseofthehighcontentofsilicateacid. Filledupwithwater,itcan
standatemperatureof400°C.(therefore,shootsareusedasvesselsforcooking)
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Reference:Bambooasa BuildingMaterial_Ar.DheneshRaj,Ar.Bindu Agarwal

7. •Highstrength-toweightratio,
•Easyworkability andavailability
•Bambooneedstobechemicallytreatedduetotheirlownaturaldurability.
•Itcanbeusedindifferentwaysforroofstructureaspurlins,raftersandreapers,forflooring,doorsand
windows,walling,ceiling,man-holecovers etc.
BAMBOOASABUILDINGMATERIAL
Purlinsandroof
trusses.
Roofshingles.
Roofingsystem. Wallsandroofing.
Bamboohome.
Scaffolding. Doorsand
Windows
Foundation
(forFloors,
partitions,
walls,
ceiling,
roofing,
doors,
windows)
Reedboards.(
Flatpressed
reeds@Hightemperatures
)
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Reference:Bambooasa BuildingMaterial_Ar.DheneshRaj,Ar.Bindu Agarwal

8. BAMBOOASABUILDINGMATERIAL
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Reference:Bambooasa BuildingMaterial_Ar.DheneshRaj,Ar.Bindu Agarwal
As thebamboomaterialislightin weightitisbeneficialforearthquakeproneareasasitschancesof
fallingarevery lessduetoflexibilityandevenifit fallsitcanbere-erectedeasilywithlesshuman
andpropertylosswithleasteffortsandminimumcost.
Bamboowallscanbeconstructedindifferentwayslike:
•Wholestemhalvedorstripsofbamboocannailedtooneorboththesidesofthebambooframe.
•Splitbamboomats canbefastenedtothebamboopostsor mats canbewoven,mudcanalso
beappliedtoboth sidesofsuchmats.
•Bamboostrips nailedto bambooframeor postsfor interiorwalling.
•Cementorlimeplasteringcan bedoneon themud coveringforbetterappearanceand
hygiene.
Ithasbeenfoundthatthebamboointheverticalpositionismoredurablethaninhorizontal
direction.Forpartitionwallsonlysinglelayerofbamboostripsareused.

9. ADVANTAGESAND
DISADVANTAGES OFBAMBOO
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
•Itis Light,strongand versatile.
•Itis Environmentfriendly.
•EasilyAccessibletothepoor.
•Selfrenewingresourceofnature.
•Speedilygrowing
•Highlyproductive.
•LowCostMaterial
•Itrequirespreservation.
•Shapedbynature
•Durability-bambooissubjectedinsects;forthis
reason,untreatedviewedastemporarywithan
than5years.
•Jointing-althoughmanyjointingstructural
efficiencyislow.
•Lackofdesignguidanceand codes.
•Pronetocatchfireveryfast culms duringwind,
andisseento causeforestfires.
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Reference:Bambooasa BuildingMaterial_Ar.DheneshRaj,Ar.Bindu Agarwal

10. ◤
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BAMBOO
PRINCIPLES

11. BAMBOO_BASIC PRINCIPLES
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Howtojoinbamboo ,orwhatarethe bestbamboojoints?
Wellfirstof, itisimportanttoknowafew basicsprinciplesaboutjoiningbamboobefore
discussingthedifferenttechniques.
•Donotusegreen,freshcut bamboo.Bamboohasto becompletely dry beforeusingit in
construction(preferableairdried).Duringthe dryingprocessthebamboodiametershrinks,so
whenbambooisusedinjoinerythiswillresultinloseandweakjointsafter afewweeks.
•Donotusebamboowhenitislessthen3yearsofage.Onlyuse maturebambooof 4-6years.
•Donotusebambooinfectedbyinsects(powderbeetleforexample).Bamboohastobe
properlycuredwithaboronmiximmediatelyafterharvesting.
•Do notusebamboothathas flourished.Restassuredbambooonlyflourishesonceinalifetime
(80-100years).
•Usebamboowiththeright diameterandwallthicknessforyourproject.

12. •Donotuseconventionalwoodnailsinbamboojoinery,they
willcausethebambooto split.Instead usenylon,steel or
vegetalcordof theappropriatediameter.
•Donotusebamboopoleswithprofoundvertical cracks,Use
appropriatecuts and jointswhenbuildingwithbamboo.
•Whenusingbambooasacolumnmakesurethatthelowerpart
connectingwiththesurfaceendswithanode.Ifnotthebamboo
willsplinterwhenstruck(forexampletopositionthecolumn).
•When connectingbamboopoleswithbolts,make sure tobolt
themtogetherinbetween2nodes,otherwisethebamboomay
crush.
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13. BAMBOONODES
BambooHasNodes,UseThem!
•Inconstruction,usingthebamboo
nodesis veryimportant.
•Bamboo columns or beams need
to have a node at both ends (or
ascloseas possible towardsthe
ends), if not the pressure of a
structure on the joint may crush
thebamboo.
•Often it isn't possible to find
bamboo of the required length
withbothend nodesinplace.
Whenthis occursyoushould
insert a woodcylinderofthe
appropriatediameterorafitting
pieceof bamboowithanode
.
Avoidthecrushingofhorizontalmembers
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14. ◤
BAMBOO
CUTS
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15. BAMBOO
CUTS
Fishmouth
Cut
OneEarCut TwoEarCut BeveledCut Flutemouth
cut
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16. TOOLSFORBAMBOO CUTS
•Makingbasiccuts in bamboodoesn't requireexpensiveorheavypowertools,justafew
traditionalhandtoolswillworkfine.
BambooConstructionSourceBook, http://www.dsource.in/resource/bamboo-craft-wayanad/tools-raw-materials
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17. ◤
BAMBOO
JOINTS
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18. BAMBOOJOINERY
TECHNIQUES
Makinggoodandaestheticalpleasingbamboojointsisrathercomplicatedbecausebamboo
ishollow,tapered,hasnodesatvaryingdistances ,anditisnotperfectlycircular.Itis
importanttokeepalltheseconstraintsinmindwhendesigningabamboojoint.
Manytraditionalbamboojoinerytechniquessufferfromweaknessor deformation,wherethe
strengthof thebambooculmitselfislost.
•Before bamboo gets widely adopted in modern
architecture(andbecomesaffordablefor alltouse),
theproblemwithbamboojoineryanduniversal
joiningsystemshastobesolved.
•Afterall,timber,steel,andmorerecently
prefabricatedconcrete,onlybecameproperbuilding
materialsfor thesamereasons.Howmany
cumbersomesolutionsforjointshaveoneseen,
before thesematerialsbecameastandardin
construction?
•Onlyiftheproblemwithbamboojoinerycan besatisfactorilyaddressed,andsimplified,wecan
expectto see muchmorebambooinWesternbuildings,bridgesandfurniture.
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19. BAMBOOJOINTS
Bambooisoneofthemostusefulplantsthatsurvivalistscangrow,asitcanbeusedtomake
shelters,traps,cages,tools,weapons,bridges,rafts,towers,fences,waterwheels,irrigation
pipe,andthousandsofotheritems.
Onceyouhaveasupplyofbamboo,thechallengeislearninghowtoconnectpieces,tomake
thoseusefulitems.
Lashing:Lashingisusedforjoiningtwoormorepolestogetherwithatyingmaterial.
Wrap:Awrapisaturnaroundtwoormorepoles.
Frap:Afrapisturnmadebetweentwopolestopullthewraptogether.
Dowel:Dowelisapin(woodorbamboowithfibersinlongitudinaldirection)of10mm.Diameter
insertedrightthroughthepole
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20. BAMBOOJOINTS
Bamboopolescan betied togetherusinganyofthe traditionallashingknotsusedfor
pioneeringprojects,suchas:
•thesquarelashing,
•roundlashing,
•diagonallashing,
•shearlashing,
•tripodlashing,
•floorlashing,or
•ladderlashing.
Buttherearealsomanykindsofjointsusedforconnectingbamboopoles.Hereishowtomake
some ofthem:
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21. SQUARELASHING
SquareLashing:
Squarelashingshallbeginandendinaclovehitch.
Itshallbe usedin aconditionwherethereisnotendency
forpolestospringapart.
CloveHitch:Clovehitchlashingis usedforjoining
twoormorepolestogetherwithatyingmaterial.
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22. 
DiagonalLashing:

TheDiagonallashingshallbeginandend
inaclovehitch.

Itshallbeusedin conditionwherethere
istendencyfor polesto springapart.
ShearLashing:
Ashearlashingshallbeginandendwithaclovehitch.
Twooremorepolesshallbefirstwrappedandthen
frappedto tighten thepolestogether.
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DIAGONALLASHING&SHEARLASHING

23. DRILLEDLASHING
Oneofthesimplestbamboojointsisthe drilled
lashing.
•Anuprightpoleiscutaboveanode,andahole
isdrilledallthewaythroughthepole,justbelow
thenode.
•Across-poleisthensecuredtotheupright,bya
lashingthroughthehole.
•For maximumstrength,a nodeofthecross-pole
should bepositionedontheupright.
•Lashingonbothsidesof the cross-polenode
preventsthe polesfromshifting.
A piece of wire bent in half (or an improvised
woodenneedle)makesthreadingcordage
throughthedrilledholeeasier,especiallythelast
passortwo,after the holeisalreadypackedwith
severalstrandsofcordage.
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24. •Hereisthecompletedjoint,showinghowlashingsaremadeonbothsidesof
thecross-polenode.
•Thelashingisfinishedwithaclovehitcharoundtheupright,anda
squareknot.
•Tyinglashingsaroundanydrilledholeisagoodwaytostrengthenthejoint,
andhelpspreventbamboopolesfromsplitting
•Drilledlashingscan beusedto
connectmorethan onecross-
poletoanupright,agood
waytomakeframeworks.
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•Usingthedrilledlashing,
twocross-poles can be
connected to an upright
at right angles, to form a
cornerjoint.
•Drilledlashingshavebeenusedtoconnectthree cross-polestoanupright,
inthisexample.
•Andinthisexample,drilledlashingshavebeenusedtoconnectfourcross-
polestoanupright.(Oncethejointhasbeenformedandtiedinplace,extra
lashingscanbeadded,ifdesired,forreinforcement.
Thelashingsshouldbetiedabove anodeontheupright.Thisisoneofthemostbasicprinciplesused
inbambooconstruction;havingthenodesworkforyou,topreventslippage

25. FIXINGHORIZONTALAND
VERTICAL MEMBERSWITH PINS
ANDBOLTS
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26. TYPESOFBEAMS
Simplesinglebeam
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Doublebeams
Quadraplebeams

27. ◤
BAMBOO
TREATMENT
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28. TOOLSREQUIREDFORBAMBOO
TREATMENT
1.Rubbergloves
2.Adjustablewrench
3.Tape
4.Hardwoodbacksaw
5.Funnel
6.Clamp
7.Adjustablespanner
8.Screwdriver
9.Handoperatedpump
a)Nozzleconnectionforbamboowith
envelop
b)Pressureregulator
c)Solutionregulator
d)Hosepipe
e)Pressureguage
f)Solutioninput
g)Solutionoutlet
h)Handleforpumping
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29. =700gms.
STEPBYSTEPPROCEDURE
FillupthePump
Fill up the Pump
Cylinder up to 3/4
with Borax / Boric
AcidSolutionusing
afunnel
PrepareBambooMakea
fresh cut on the bamboo
with the Hardwood back
saw about 10 cm away
fromthenode
Placefirstlytheclamp
and then the Hose
Nozzle.
Tighten the clamp
so that the Nozzle
becomes air tight.
Pump until the
pressure is
between20-25psi.
Repeat the process to
alltheavailablehoses.
FortreatmentofBamboototalchemicalshouldbeusedat5%oftotal
dissolvechemical.
Example:For14Litrecapacityofpumpchemicalto beused700Grams.
For StructuralBamboofor pole,beametcBoricacid,Coppersulphate
andsodiumorpotassiumdichromatetobe usedinproportionof1.5:3:4
i.e.for14 litreoftank
ForNon Structuralmemberlike,walllattice,SplitsBoricacidandBorax
to beusedin1:1.5: Proportion.i.e.for 14litreoftank
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=700gms.

30. ◤
STEPBYSTEP
PROCESS OF
MAKING A
BAMBOOHOUSE
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31. SITESELECTION
Ifthesoilis notgoodforfoundation,
contact theengineer.
1.House oninappropriateland
maycause damageindisaster.
2.If the shape of the house is
squarethen theroofwillbeconical.
Toavoid conicalroof theshapeof
thehouseshouldberectangle.
1.If soil is good, 5’ deep stub
foundationisappropriatefor
house.
2.Ifsoilissandy,precast pile
foundationisadvisable.
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32. MARKIN
G
1.According to the land and future
expansionplans,thehouse to
beset outinsuchawaythat
toilet andservicesarewell
accommodated.
2.Excavation to be done
according tomarkings on
ground.
3.Excavatedearthshould be kept
away 4’ to 6’ away from the
foundation.
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33. CONSTRUCTIONOFTHEFOUNDATION
Digpitsupto3to5
feetaccordingtosoil
Foundation area
should not contain
leaves and other
thingswhichdecay.
Foundationshouldbe
in level and clean
loose soil to be
removed.
2’X2’bricksoling
tobedone
BrickSoling
Keep vertical
bricksonedgeof
solingas
shutteringfor
concreting, pour
concrete and
spread and mark
centerforvertical
bar
Raisethebrickcolumntill
youreachuptogroundlevel .
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34. 1feetfromthebottom,fix
12mm steel in both the
direction.
Pour concrete in the
proportionof1cement
1.5sandand3water.
RAISINGAPRE-CAST
FOUNDATION
Twoimportantstagesare:1.Tomake pile2.Tofixpile infoundation
Tocastapileof10’
long Make cage of 12’
longfromfour12mm
sizesteelbar.
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This cage should be
placedinthewooden
mouldorbrickmould
Additional aggregate steel in the
bottom will take shape of base
whichwillnotallowfoundationto
affectfromearthquake
Excavatepitforfoundation
Note:
If water table is too high, use a
drum without base, excavate
inside the drum and take soil out.
Water will remain there, reach up
to appropriate depth. Pile to be
fixed with help of ropes and
woodenpoles,drumstobetaken
out,soiltobefilledagain.
Ensurethatreinforcementsare
longenoughtobendinsidethe
plinthbeam
Fix the pile in the pit. Ensure
thatreinforcementsarelong
enough to bend inside the
plinthbeam

35. Plinth should
be 6” above
the normal
flood level in
your area (
minimum 1’6’’
aboveGround
level )
Place the
reinforcement as per
the picture. Place the
cage of 8mm thick
reinforcement. Fill the
concreteinproportion
of cement 1.5 sand
and3aggregate.
(Same foundation and plinth can be
usedforbrickwallhouses.Insteadof
band of10”thickbeam 12mmdia
bars can be used. The total number
ofmainbarsshouldbe4.)
RAISINGTHEBRICKPLINTH
Place the pvc pipe of 4’’ in the
pedestalwhich should be
removed before setting of
concreteso that bamboo
columncanbefixedlater.At
thesametime,keepabamboo
pin or 10mmiron rod piece
horizontallyattached with pipe
that should be removed
immediately after setting of
concrete. This will be used to
fixpintobambootoholditwith
plinth.
Earthquake
resistant
concreteband
atplinthisready
for
superstructure.
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36. THESUPERSTRUCTURE
Tointegrate
superstructure
with plinth,
bamboo should
befixed15”deep
intheplinth.
The bamboo
poles to be
housed in the
holecreatedin
plinth
Ones the bamboo
poleishousedina
plinth put dry fine
sandto fill the
remaininggapand
insertshearpin
shearpin
Tocompletethe
framenextstepis
to attached
bamboo beams
with pole
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37. THEDETAILS_DIAGONAL
BRACING
Diagonalbracingbetweenthe
postsineachwallat thecorners
fromplinth levelendtoatticlevel
endshallbeprovided.
Itshallbemirroredinthe
oppositecornersofthewall.
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38. THEDETAILS_KNEEBRACING
Alternatively.kneebracingmaybeprovidedat each post
toconnect post andtheatticlevelbeam
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39. THEDETAILS_ROOFING
MainBeamas
aBundleof3
Bamboo
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40. THEDETAILS_ROOFING
Twotypesofroofcanbemade.
1.CGIsheets2.Countrytiles
For country tiles,
thedistanceshould
notexceed1feet.
For CGI sheet, fix rafter
overroof’sbamboobeam,
notexceeding2’distance.
ForCGIsheetuse
Jbolts,atdistance
notmorethan2’.
Ensurethatthebamboowork
is strong enough, apply
cementplasteronthe
exterior and mud plaster
inside.
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Toplasteronbamboomatt,
apply first coat of rough
plaster for proper bonding
with the second layer. Then
apply the second finish coat
plaster. This plaster can be
done upto 7’, and bamboo
jaafricanbeusedabovethat.

41. THEDETAILS_WALLS
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42. Thefollowing slides willshowa few
pictures ofbamboostructures….
Getinspired!
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46. Thank
you!
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