Abstract
The cost and environmental problems associated with steel as a reinforcement material in concrete has necessitated the need to research for alternative reinforcement materials, and bamboo is one of them. The flexural and durability characteristics of bamboo reinforced concrete (BRC) samples under harsh environmental condition was simulated by curing samples in an alkaline solution. Bamboo splints that were coated with sanded bitumen were used to reinforce the concrete samples with unreinforced concrete (UC) serving as control. The BRC samples were cured in normal water and an equal number were cured in 5% Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) alkaline solution. Samples from both curing conditions and another of the control were tested for flexural strengths after 7, 14, 28, 56, and 76 days of curing respectively and results compared. Water absorption rates after each curing period were also taken. Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) tests were also conducted on the samples to find out the composite qualities. The results showed that BRC had twice as much flexural strength than UC but reduced in strength by 17.9% in the alkaline environment after 28 days of curing. In addition to possessing acceptable strength values under normal water and alkaline solution curing situations by ponding, all the samples had elastic dynamic modulus and static modulus values that exceeded minimum recommended values by the relevant standards.
Key words: Keywords; Bamboo, Flexural strength, Alkaline, Concrete, Ultrasonic pulse velocity.
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