A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering of the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1975

The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility of using bamboo as a substitute for steel in reinforced concrete columns. The mechanical properties of bamboo were determined from tests for use in the design. Bamboo reinforced concrete short tied columns, with or without eccentricity were tested to fail in compression. Ties made of green bamboo skins were provided in the columns. The spacing of the ties were based on the criteria proposed by Bresler and Gilbert (14 ) and modified for bamboo reinforced concrete tied columns. Two theoretical methods are suggested for the prediction of ultimate load. The first method is based on CEB stress-strain curve of concrete while the second method is based on an idealized bi-linear stress-strain curve of concrete. The stress-strain curve of bamboo in both methods were assumed linear. Theoretical load moment interaction curves were generated for bamboo reinforced short tied columns using these two methods. In the case of axially loaded columns, good agreement exists between the experimental ultimate load and the theoretical ultimate load obtained from both methods. In the case of eccentrically loaded columns with minimum eccentricity, equal to one tenth of the lateral dimension of the column, the ultimate load predicted by the first method agrees fairly well with the experimental values, whereas, the second method gives a very conservative result. However, in view of the complexity of the first method, the second method is suggested for use in preliminary design of bamboo reinforced concrete tied columns. A variety of bamboo scientifically known as Thyrsostachys Oliveri and locally known in Thailand as Pai Ruak was used throughout the investigation because of its high tensile and compressive strengths.