Comparative Analysis Of The Tensile Strength Of Bamboo And Reinforcement Steel Bars As Structural Member In Building Construction

Abstract This study aims at testing and comparing the tensile strength of bamboo and steel reinforcement bars as structural material for building construction. Tensile strength tests were carried out on various sizes steel and bamboo categories of reinforcement bars such as 10mm 12mm 16mm 20mm and 25mm of both high-yield and mild-yield steel reinforcement bars were both tested along with same sizes of bamboo with 10mm cross-sectional thickness. Results are presented in tables and graphs and show that the tensile strength of high-yield steel bars outstrips that of mild-yield and bamboo respectively. The study finds that the breaking force FB for 10mm HY 24.42KN tensile strength 457.13Nmm2 yield stress 379.02 Nmm2 and breaking elongation 39.67mm respectively. For 12mm HY breaking force FB 52.14 KN tensile strength 689.12 Nmm2 yield stress 551.30Nmm2 and breaking elongation 36.58mm. 16mm HY results in breaking force FB 126.67KN tensile strength 771.61Nmm2 yield stress 494.10Nmm2 and breaking elongation 70.87mm. The same factors for 20mm yields breaking force FB 163.97KN tensile strength 713.40Nmm2 yield stress 614.74Nmm2 and breaking elongation 61.57mm. While the 25mm HY produces breaking force FB 306.17KN tensile strength 792.90Nmm2 yield stress 678.46Nmm2 and breaking elongation 52.36mm respectively. Mild Steel MY 10mm yields breaking force FB 14.76KN tensile strength 290.49Nmm2 yield stress 233.17Nmm2 and breaking elongation 78.86mm. 12mm MY results in breaking force 40.35KN tensile strength 508.08Nmm2 yield stress 376.17Nmm2 and breaking elongation 84.10mm. 16mm MY yields breaking force FB 79.72KN tensile strength 508.71Nmm2 yield stress 349.10Nmm2 and breaking elongation 111.39mm respectively. For 20mm mild steel breaking force FB 83.04KN tensile strength 372.98Nmm2 yield stress 284.64Nmm2 and breaking elongation 47.40mm. While the 25mm MY steel bar results show breaking force FB 163.04KN tensile strength 701.74Nmm2 yield stress 599.77Nmm2 and breaking elongation 56.84mm. On the other hand bamboo yields for the same size width and constant thickness of 10mm the 10mm-25mm bamboo sizes result as 10mm bamboo breaking force FB -2.1KN tensile strength 31.55Nmm2 yield stress 0.00Nmm2 and breaking elongation 0.00mm. 12mm width with 10mm thickness yields breaking force FB -1.28KN tensile strength 31.07Nmm2 yield stress 0.00Nmm2 and breaking elongation 0.00mm. 16mm bamboo breaking force 1.85KN tensile strength 68.82Nmm2 yield stress 49.45Nmm2 and breaking elongation 30.40mm. For the 20mm width size bamboo with same 10mm thickness breaking force FB -0.12KN tensile strength 62.66Nmm2 yield stress 50.23Nmm2 and breaking elongation 18.20mm respectively. Finally the 25mm bamboo size gives breaking force FB 4.76KN tensile strength 94.60Nmm2 yield stress 50.19Nmm2 and breaking elongation 21.11mm. The study concludes that due to the minimal breaking force FB of bamboo it cannot be employed as a main structural member in building and other engineering works but can be used as portioning wall ceiling roof and other areas of engineering construction that is not heavy load-bearing.