A review on mechanical behavior of laminated bamboo lumber connections

Due to the transition of Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector to a sustainable development, bamboo turned out to be a suitable option to conventional building materials due to its environmental friendliness and distinctive mechanical properties. Initially, it was impossible to use the original bamboo in flat applications due to its round cross-sectional shape, but engineered bamboo, in particular laminated bamboo lumber (LBL), solved this problem. Connections are one of the most important parts of building structures that are responsible for the distribution of loads and energy, ensuring the stability and safety of the structure by avoiding concentration of localized stress that can cause failures at the joints. Over the past decade, a series of experimental studies of connection performance of LBL have been conducted. In order to stimulate the use of laminated bamboo in construction industry, this article reviewed the existing published literature and described the behavior of LBL connections in terms of failure mechanisms and factors affecting the bearing capacity considering three connections categories, namely, LBL sheathing-to-framing connections, LBL dowel-type connections, and glued-in rods (GIROD) in LBL connections. According to the reviewed studies, LBL has great potential and can serve as a worthy alternative for conventional building materials. This work can provide a reference for engineering applications and future research.