Development of Laminated Bamboo Lumber: Review of Processing, Performance, and Economical Considerations
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 23, Issue 7
Abstract
As focus is drawn toward more sustainable construction practices, use of bamboo as a structural building material is growing as a topic of interest. It is highly renewable, has low-embodied energy, and has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of steel, concrete, and timber. Composite lumber made from bamboo, termed laminated bamboo lumber (LBL), has gained the particular interest of researchers and practitioners of late, since it has bamboo’s mechanical properties but can be manufactured in well-defined dimensions, similar to commercially available wood products. Its primary drawbacks are that it is difficult to connect and is more costly than competing, locally available materials. This paper presents the advantages and challenges of embracing LBL as an alternative building material. Experimental and analytical data on production, performance, economics, and environmental impact of bamboo and LBL are reviewed, synthesized, and further analyzed to present an overview of the viability of using bamboo as a structural material in North America.
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Acknowledgments
The writers of this paper thank the National Science Foundation (NSF) for its support through current grant NSFCMMI-0926265. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Gratitude is also extended to graduate student Zhuo Yang and wood shop manager Daniel Pepin in the Department of Natural Resources Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 23 • Issue 7 • July 2011
Pages: 1036 - 1042
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 5, 2010
Accepted: Dec 17, 2010
Published online: Dec 20, 2010
Published in print: Jul 1, 2011
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