Influence of age and height position on colombian Guadua angustifolia bambo mechanical properties

Abstract

The age of bamboo is a key factor that affects its mechanical properties. Bamboo Guadua angustifolia kunt (Guadua a.k.) has been used as a construction material in America, but the influence of the age and height position of the culm on the mechanical properties has not been studied in detail. In this study, selected mechanical properties of Guadua a.k from 2 to 5 year old culms, located at different heights, were investigated using international standard test procedures (ISO 22157). Based on the experimental results, it was found that the top portion (sobrebasa) showed the maximum strength and modulus of elasticity compared to the other portions, since this portion of bamboo has higher density. More over, density of Guadua a.k. culm has more influence in modulus of rupture in bending, than in any of the other studied mechanical properties. Regardless of the culm height, it seems that the mature age of Guadua angustifolia kunt is reached between 3 and 4 years old, because the mechanical properties at those ages were the highest and remained almost constant, whereas the mechanical properties of the culms at the age of 5 were the lowest.