THE MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF PARALLEL TDG BAMBOO LAMINATED COLUMNS (TDGLC)

A research study conducted in Thailand aimed at developing and adding value to agricultural products, specifically focusing on bamboo. The agricultural sector in Thailand plays a significant role in the economy and society, employing a large portion of the population and generating income equal to approximately 9% of the countrys GDP. The government aims to enhance the competitiveness of Thai agricultural products and increase their value for the benefit of local communities.The research focuses on utilizing bamboo for construction projects, particularly in the form of Thai Dendrocalamus Giganteus bamboo (TDG) laminated columns (TDGLC). The study involves a production process to create man-made TDGLC and investigates the mechanical properties of these columns. The research examines the performance of parallel bamboo laminated columns under axial compression tests.Specimens of TDG bamboo, aged between 3 and 4 years, were cut into strips and clamped together to form columns of various lengths and cross-sections. The cross-section sizes ranged from 100 mm to 203 mm, with lengths of 1 meter, 2 meters, and 3 meters. The compression load and classification of long and short columns were analyzed based on the proportioning of length and cross-section.The research identified specific column types that exhibited either strength failure (short columns) or buckling failure (long columns). However, two column types, C603 and C402, showed mixed results, with both strength and buckling failures. Although their slenderness ratios exceeded 60, the primary mode of failure indicated that these specimens should be classified as short columns.It was observed that defects in the specimens influenced their load capacity, with higher slenderness ratios resulting in greater lateral deflection corresponding to the peak load. The equation used to calculate the load capacities aligned well with the test results. Overall, the study contributes to the understanding of TDGLC performance in construction applications and provides insights into the mechanical behavior of bamboo columns under axial compression.