EFFECTS OF AGE AND HEIGHT ON PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO

Bamboo is an important raw material for housing, bridge construction and other purposes in Bangladesh. Due to acute scarcity of timber for housing, bamboo is important as a substitute both at the village and urban levels. A sufficient knowledge of the physical and mechanical properties of bamboo ensures safe design for materials used in service. In this study, some physical and mechanical properties (at different heights and three ages) of four bamboo species, viz. Bambusa balcooa, B. tulda, B. salarkhanii and Melocanna baccifera, grown in the southwestern part of Bangladesh were investigated. Bambusa balcooa had the highest moisture content in green condition. Moisture content at different height positions was different for all the bamboo species. However, moisture content was not different with age in all the species. Density for different age groups was only different for B. salarkhanii and M. baccifera. Melocanna baccifera had the highest density but the lowest shrinkage of culm wall thickness. Height and age had almost no effects on the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR). The highest MOE and MOR were observed in M. baccifera.