Comparative Study of Bamboo and Steel Reinforcement in Lightweight Concrete Slab Structure
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69855/sipil.v2i2.903Keywords:
Bamboo Reinforcement, Steel Reinforcement, Lightweight Concrete, Slab, Flexural Strength, Sustainable ConstructionAbstract
Purpose: This study compared the flexural performance of lightweight concrete (LWC) slabs reinforced with treated bamboo strips and with conventional steel rebar, alongside an unreinforced plain LWC control, to assess bamboo as a renewable, lower-cost alternative to steel. Methods: Twelve slabs (500 × 300 × 60 mm, four per group) were tested under third-point flexural loading until failure, and bond strength of the two reinforced groups was evaluated by pull-out testing. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Results: Reinforcement type significantly affected first crack load, ultimate load, flexural strength, deflection at failure, and ductility index (p < .001), but not stiffness (p = .222). Steel-reinforced slabs achieved the highest ultimate load (28.43 ± 1.46 kN) and flexural strength (7.47 ± 0.34 MPa), while bamboo-reinforced slabs reached 78.9% of the ultimate load (22.44 ± 0.79 kN) and 77.1% of the flexural strength (5.76 ± 0.28 MPa), both significantly higher than the control (p < .001). Bamboo bond strength (2.83 ± 0.20 MPa) was lower than that of steel (4.41 ± 0.12 MPa, p < .001) yet sufficient to mobilize substantial flexural capacity. Bamboo-reinforced slabs also showed comparable stiffness and a markedly higher ductility index than plain concrete, at an estimated 82% lower reinforcement material cost. Conclusion: Bamboo-reinforced lightweight concrete slabs, although not matching the capacity of steel-reinforced slabs, are a technically viable, more economical, and more sustainable option for non-critical applications such as low-rise housing floor and roof slabs.
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