Teodoro A. Amatosa, Michael E. Loretero, Romeo B. Santos, Marnie B. Giduquio
Green engineering is increasingly investigated as a possibility to treat organic green material for structural applications. Dendrocalamus asper bamboo culms as green engineering materials were processed to produce composite materials using epoxy resin from a natural treatment by soaking with an average of pH 7.6 level of sea-water. Mechanical properties of proposed laminated bamboo composites (LBCs) have been assessed under loading conditions and standards. The study provides a comparison of the structural performance with different conventional timbers as avenue for application in engineering design and practices. Comparison of laminated bamboo with woods indicate that average value of 27.47 MPa and 52.59 MPa for compressive and bending strength respectively, obtained much higher allowable value and average strength, which are comparable to stiffness values of softwoods and hardwoods. However, even though the present study shows properties with higher and comparable to other composite materials, further research must be given better attention for characterization and standardization before acceptance in the marketplace as alternative green engineering material to timber and wood-based composites and other building materials for construction design, and structural elements as composite materials for engineering utilization. © 2019 Technoscience Publications. All Rights Reserved.
Engineering Graduate Program, School of Engineering, University of San Carlos, Talamban Campus, Cebu City, 6000, Philippines; College of Engineering and Technology, Northwest Samar State University, Calbayog City, Samar, 6710, Philippines; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of San Carlos, Talamban Campus, Cebu City, 6000, Philippines
