Study on the Tangential Tensile Mechanical Properties of Moso Bamboo

Abstract

In this work, we used tensile tests to analyze the tangential failure forms of raw bamboo and determine a relation-ship between tangential tensile strength, elastic modulus, position, density, and moisture content. We found that the tangential mechanical properties of the culm wall were mainly dependent on the mechanical properties of the basic structure of the thin wall. Formulas for calculating the tangential tensile strength of moso bamboo and adjusting the moisture content were also determined. The tangential tensile strength and the tangential tensile modulus of elasticity (TTMOE) followed: outer > middle > inner, and diaphragm > bamboo node > culm wall. Below the fiber saturation point, the tangential tensile strength and TTMOE values of the bamboo gradually decreased with increasing moisture content. When the moisture content was 15%, the tangential tensile strengths of the inner, middle, outer, culm wall, bamboo node, and diaphragm samples of the five-year-old moso bamboo were 3.17, 3.29, 3.31, 3.24, 3.67, and 8.85 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, their TTMOE values were 215.09, 227.98, 238.45, 224.04, 267.21, and 559.27 MPa, respectively. Hence, this study provides a theoretical basis for future research on bamboo cracking.