Through-thickness distribution of bamboo tensile strength parallel to fibres

Abstract A tensile test program of Moso bamboo samples was carried out in order to obtain information on the radial distribution of elastic and strength properties. In accordance with previous studies, the elastic modulus and the tensile strength were found to increase outwards in the radial direction. This spatial dependence was compared with the distribution of the fibre content of the layers and found excellent correlation suggesting that the fibres are the main load bearing components. The fibre content was quantified using regression analysis in the radial direction as 0.1 (inner layer), 0.19 (middle-1 layer), 0.28 (middle-2 layer) and 0.44 (outer layer). The Rule of Mixture theory allowed the estimation of the elastic modulus and the tensile strength of the main individual components, the fibres and the parenchyma matrix. Article Highlights Radial distribution of bamboo fibres across the culm wall and stiffness properties obtained from tensile test parallel to fibres were compared. The radial distribution of bamboo fibres was analysed in layers using image analysis software. The tensile failure mechanisms of bamboo samples were identified and found to depend on fibre content.