Long-Term Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Scrimber

Abstract

AbstractsBamboo scrimber (BS) is new bamboo composites, and has wide application prospects in green buildings. As a biomass viscoelastic material, long-term mechanical properties are the key indicators for its lifetime safe service. In this paper, both the short-term and long-term tests in tension parallel to grain of BS were conducted. The long-term mechanical properties of BS including the duration of load (DOL) and creep effects, were investigated from the macro and micro levels. Results indicated that the DOL effect of BS was more severe than that of other structural wooden materials, but its relative creep deformation was smaller. By micro characterization, the DOL effect was strongly correlated with its micro-fracture morphology and bamboo fiber damage, while the creep effect was related to the decomposition of hemicellulose. Finally, time-dependent constitutive models were developed and could provide good prediction for the DOL factor and creep deformation of BS under different load durations. This study was beneficial for the long-term safe application of BS as a new structural material.

Keywords: Bamboo scrimber (BS), long-term mechanical properties, duration of load (DOL), creep, time-dependent constitutive models