Concrete reinforcement by using bamboo as reinforcement for low cost housing industry

Abstract

In this era, Concrete is the most used in construction material in the entire world. Characteristic of concrete has excellent in compressive strength, but low in tensile strength. As a result, steel commonly used in reinforcing material because high tensile strength. Usually used a steel as reinforcing material must be limited because costly and effect on air pollution in manufacturing process. Address of this issue cost and availability, bamboo material has been used to replacement as reinforcement in concrete. Bamboo is suitable material because is a natural material, cheap and also available material. In this research, performance of bamboos as alternative in reinforcing concrete has been evaluated. Tensile strength test of bamboos has been performed on Universal Testing Machine (UTM) to identify the yields stress of bamboos. From the test, the result has shown the bamboo has a similar characteristic with steel and bamboo can be as alternative for reinforcing concrete. Bamboos have characteristic high water absorption and low in bonding strength between bamboo surface and concrete are very low compared to steel. In this research, waterproofing agent has used to minimize the water absorption and increase the bonding strength. Flexural strength test of bamboo singly reinforced beam with size 150 mm x 150 mm x 750 mm is done to determine the performance of bamboo as reinforcement. From the test condition has shown that bamboo has a potential to substitute with steel to use in concrete reinforcement.