Date post: | 21-May-2017 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | robert-m-longo-aia |
View: | 214 times |
Download: | 1 times |
Kennedy 1
Sean Kennedy Professor Longo Architectural Construction II 24 March 2014
Material Research: Bamboo
Material Specifications: • Master Specification Number? • Manufacturer? Manufacturers of Bamboo consist of Guadua Bamboo,
Teragren, Cali Bamboo etc. • Is there a common generic term for this material? The term for bamboo
in construction is simply as it is, Bamboo. Material Application
• What is the materials’ intended or primary use? Bamboo can be used in many different ways. Doors, flooring, tables, chairs, columns, beams, wall panels, and other structural elements can all be made out of bamboo. Bamboo doors are laminated bamboo panels that are natural and sustainable. Bamboo flooring is known as some of the hardest wood flooring in the world and comes in plenty of styles and colors. For tables and chairs, bamboo can be used for all aspects of it including legs and the part you sit or eat on. In terms of structure, Bamboo can be used as beams and columns. Bamboo naturally can be as wide as 6”, but can also be used as something similar to glulam. “Several flattened bamboo panels are glued and pressed to each other and sawn into specific dimensions” (Guadua 7). Lastly, bamboo wall panels are very common. “The panels are against insect infection, mold and oven dried to approximately 13% moisture content” (Guadua 2). Other structural elements made out of bamboo are roofs and are made similarly to the wall panels.
• Physical Properties: Finish: For uses other than doors, floors and wall/roof panels, bamboo is mostly used in its natural state. For Bamboo wall/roof panels, bamboo poles are sliced down the middle and flattened. The white inner layer is than removed because it attracts insects. For doors and flooring, this process is taking further. After the poles are sliced and flatten, they are sanded and coated with a polyurethane finish or laminated. Surface forms/shapes: Bamboo is shaped differently depending on its use. Bamboo can be used in its natural cylinder shape for columns, beams, tables and chairs. After sliced and flatten, bamboo is a thin rectangular shape, which can be combined to form a cubic shape, which can be used again for column and beams. Dimensions: According to Guaduabamboo.com, the bamboo they sell ranges from 6-‐14 cm in diameter, 6 m in length, and from 9-‐21 kg in weight (Guadua 10).
• Acoustic Properties: Bamboo has great acoustic properties and does a tremendous job absorbing sound. Wood is commonly used in theatres or concert halls for this reason.
Kennedy 2
• Structural Properties: Bamboo has the capabilities to be used as any kind of structure. Buildings, bridges and pavilions have all been built out of bamboo previously. The bamboo structure can be the cylinder pieces of bamboo 2-‐6 inches in diameter or glulam type pieces where flat panels of bamboo are glued together to create a cubed column, or beam. In addition, bamboo has been used as concrete reinforcement, similar to rebar. Moreover, bamboo can be used as scaffolding for construction purposes.
• Installation Methods: Because Bamboo is not commonly found in places all around the world, installation would consist of pre-‐manufactured pieces delivered to the site and assembled there after. Bamboo building pieces are tied together tightly by the proper cords at their intersections.
• Cost Analysis: The price of bamboo strongly depends on the diameter of the pole, along with its length and color. To get more specific, According to Sunsetbamboo.com, 3 basic poles of 3 feet in length, 5In in diameter would cost just over $60 (sunset bamboo). From there, the heights get taller making the price more expensive as well. In addition, bamboo wall panels and fences can be purchased as well. For example, a natural bamboo wall panel 4 feet by 8 feet would cost just shy over $70 (sunset bamboo). An example of a bamboo fence would be anywhere from $30 to $100 depending on the size.
Material Background
• How is the material made? Bamboo is a perennial evergreen plant that grows naturally in the earth. From there, it can be altered to improve its appearance if desired.
• What are its components? Where do they come from? Bamboo can be found scattered all over the world, however native bamboo is not known to be found on the continent of Europe. In it raw state, bamboo is a plant that resembles a small tree, in how it has a trunk with leaf type growth on top.
• What is the process to make the material? The process to get bamboo construction ready is rather arduous. Step 1 is selection and harvest. This step consists of selecting bamboo 4-‐6 years old about 1400m above sea level. These properties suggest the strongest, most construction ready bamboo. Step 2 is perforating and dimensioning. This step consists of cutting the bamboo to its required size and perforating the nodes. After this, a steel rod with a drill bit tip is used to penetrate the bamboo rod so the chemicals on the inside can interact with the fibers on the outside. This is necessary because bamboo has a natural water repellant outer layer. Step 3 is washing. During this process, the bamboo poles are cleaned of all mosses and surface stains. In addition, every node is hand washed with a brush. Step 4 is preparing chemicals. This step consists of using a non-‐toxic boron solution on the bamboo poles to help increase its durability. Step 5 is preservation. During this process, the poles are soaked in a heated 9m-‐tank use to immunize the bamboo. Step 6 is sun bleaching. During this process, the bamboo poles are bleached in open air for up to 2 weeks. This guarantees
Kennedy 3
their beige color, which is more common in construction, and easier to paint or stain if necessary. Step 7 is solar drying. This process consists of drying the previously soaked bamboo poles in a specially manufactured solar kiln which helps reduce the humidity in the bamboo to its required percentage of around 13%. Step 8 is color-‐coding and quality control. By this step, the bamboo is ready to be used and cleared of all tests of cracks and bends. The color-‐coding is to decipher each one by its diameter to stay more organized (guadua bamboo 1-‐8).
• What are the byproducts of this process? The only byproduct of this process is the residue from step 4 previously stated is later used as fertilizer.
• Does the material have any historical or cultural significance? Bamboo does have cultural significance. It is very common and popular in countries of Asia and those surrounding. Bamboo is complete diet of the Giant Panda, which to many can be considered to unofficial animal of China.
Environmental Impact
• Expected life expectancy: Properly treated and harvested bamboo has the average life expectancy of 30 years.
• Recycling/biodegradability opportunities: Bamboo can be recycled and manufactured into new things such as IPhone cases, shopping bags, and boxes for other uses.
Kennedy 4
Images:
Flat bamboo panels Bamboo columns, beams, and roof panels
Flat bamboo panels glued together Bamboo chair
Bamboo Pavilion Bamboo Bridge
Kennedy 5
Works Cited
"Guadua Bamboo Experts in the World's Strongest Bamboo!" Guadua Bamboo. Ed. Stephane Schroder. N.p., 2007. Web. 24 Mar. 2014 "Natural Bamboo Fencing." Bamboo Fencing Natural. Island Thatch, INC, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.