People who have lived in rural areas can attest that bamboo has been a prominent material in the construction of mud and hut houses. It was also mainly used for the construction of farmhouses. The plant is also well-known for fencing and poles to help in the construction of objects such as furniture.
Artistically, bamboo is used in flooring designs, rustic decorations, and beautiful furniture among others.
However, in modern times there is a revolution in the use of bamboo following the shift towards sustainable and environmentally friendly ways of building. More so, in an era where national governments are finding innovative means to construct affordable houses to bridge the gaping housing deficit through local materials, bamboo has been identified as one of the modern revolutionary building materials.
This piece focuses on bamboo as an innovative and affordable material for construction in place of steel rods. This article is aimed at throwing the spotlight on the history of the plant in the construction sector, its properties, its role in ensuring affordable housing, and expert views on the material.
History of Bamboo in Construction
Numerous literature attest to the assertion that the Chinese used bamboo to construct tree houses 5000 years ago originating the legacy of the plant as a sturdy material for building. In addition to the Chinese, other Asia countries, South American and African countries have also used the plant in various stages in their construction process for thousands of years.
It has also been historically used in scaffolding and bridges due to its mechanical properties. The Ming Dynasty also in the 1300s used bamboo as an interior building material for the creation of bedding and flooring designs.
The studies on bamboo as a reinforcement concrete to replace steel originates from the early part of the 20th Century. It primarily began in Southeast Asia. Published literature reveals that research on the subject was conducted during the mid-20th century at MIT and also in Germany, Italy, and the United States of America. After the Second World War, the US Navy also used bamboo-reinforced concrete for reconstruction in Southeast Asia.
Appropriate Bamboo Varieties for Reinforcement
It is estimated that there are over 1400 species of bamboo across the world. It must be emphasized that experts agree that not all species are appropriate for reinforcement in construction. This is due to the different properties of the different species.
However, a study by the CSIR-Building and Road Research Institute and other research bodies across the world have identified some varieties appropriate for the purpose of reinforcement. Some of these species include;
Ø Guadua angustifolia: It is a native of South America known for its thick walls and high strength.
Ø Phyllostachys edulis: Popularly known as Moso bamboo, it is prevalent in China best known for its hardness and rapid growth.
Ø Bambusa balcooa: Widely used in India and Bangladesh. Experts say its robust and easily available
Ø Dendrocalamus strictus: Also widely available in India and Southeast Asia, it is known for its durability and rigidity.
Properties of Bamboo That Make It Appropriate for Reinforcement
The various research and experiments on bamboo identified certain properties that make it a suitable candidate for replacing steel in construction. The following are some of the mechanical properties of bamboo;
Ø Tensility: Bamboo has proven to possess high tensile strength indicating its ability to withstand tension comparable to steel. Bamboo can largely withstand pressure/force without easily breaking.
Ø Elasticity: Bamboo has a natural flexibility that makes it capable of bending without breaking hence highly resistant to seismic forces.
Ø Lightweight: Bamboo is significantly lighter than steel. This, experts say make it easier to transport and handle on construction sites hence reducing overall costs.
Benefits of Bamboo as an Alternative Building Material for Affordable Housing
In an era where the housing deficit is a major socioeconomic issue in developing countries, experts have advised that innovative and more affordable ways of construction should be prioritized. This could be done through the use of alternative and local materials which can reduce the cost of building.
Bamboo has been identified as one local and alternative materials that can help to reduce the cost of construction and hence ensure affordable housing due to the following reasons;
Ø Affordability: The plant is locally available in many tropical sub-tropical regions. This means it can generally be cultivated locally reducing the need for the importation of expensive materials like steel. This can drastically reduce the cost of building social and affordable homes for low-income and vulnerable populations.
Ø Eco-Friendly/Sustainability: Unlike bamboo, steel production is highly energy-intensive, primarily involving coal and other fossil fuels in processes like smelting and casting. This contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. However, the cultivation of bamboo absorbs carbon thereby reducing carbon footprint.
Ø Renewability: Bamboo is touted as one of the fastest-growing plants indicating its rapid regeneration capacities. Experts say some species can grow up to 2.91ft/day indicating how easily it can be obtained through cultivation.
Ø Economic Impact: The transition to the use of bamboo can also boost local economies through the creation of employment opportunities. Locals can be engaged in cultivation, harvesting, and treatment to boost their incomes.
Commenting on this new revolution in construction with the use of bamboo, President of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), Ing. Kwabena Bempong confirmed to The High Street Journal that bamboo indeed has a very high tensile strength which can be used in concrete reinforcement.
The Highway and Structural Engineer added that bamboo as a construction material is an old technology that has stood the test of time.
“The bamboo has a lot of fibre and there has been a lot of research carried out in the embedment of bamboo in concrete or in mud houses. It is an old technology that our forefathers were using. Bamboo has a high tensile reinforcement and therefore we know that concrete is weak in tension and therefore once we incorporate the bamboo in the concrete, it will provide it with the necessary tensile strength,” Ing Bempong said.
He however gave a word of caution that users must be careful with the usage of bamboo as reinforcement. He explains that given the possibility that bamboo can be infected by insects, it is very important that the plant is treated before use. Moreover, he further called for the plant to be engineered before use.
He said, “But when you do that without knowing the properties of the material that you are incorporating, then you are working in the dark. It is also not properly engineered because when engineering you must know the behavior or the structure of the material. But where you are just using the rule of thumb, then you can make a mistake and then could lead to death.”
“So for very small structures which may not necessarily be a risk to lives and properties, they may use it but then it has to be engineered. If it is engineered then we are sure of what we are doing,” he cautioned.
Bamboo represents an exciting, eco-friendly alternative to steel for reinforcing concrete in affordable housing projects. Its renewability, strength, and low cost make it an appealing option, particularly in regions where traditional building materials are scarce or expensive.
However, its use requires careful treatment and precautionary measures to ensure longevity and safety. Despite some disadvantages, the bamboo revolution could play a pivotal role in addressing the global need for sustainable and affordable housing solutions, especially in developing nations.
