Mechanical and Physical Properties of Bamboo Species in Ghana

The call by United Nations for environmentally friendly, renewable and sustainable materials in recent years has led to the research into bamboo utilisation as an industrial raw material since it possesses exceptional mechanical properties making it a suitable alternative to timber in a structural application. There have been several reported literature types of research on this material for the past three decades. However, in Ghana, little literature on the mechanical and physical properties has been establishing, leading to its industrial neglect for centuries. However, because of the rapid depletion of forest timbers in recent years, many researchers are looking into its potential for industrial uses in the country. The study aims to investigate the mechanical and physical properties of two selected bamboo species most common in Ghana namely Bambusa vulgaris (green type) and Dendrocalamus strictus. A mechanical and physical test was conducted on the selected species to identify each property. The mechanical testing includes tensile, compression, flexural, and the physical properties include density, aesthetic and morphology to examine the distinctions in their culms. The results showed that the density of the two selected culms species of bamboo for this work shows variation in the range of 0.53–0.79 g/cm³. The two species of bamboo culms selected has a structural morphology being hollow in nature and consists of a vessel surrounded by fibres as well as having root system either sympodial or monopodial. The average tensile, compression, and flexural strength of Bambusa vulgaris (green type) and Dendrocalamus strictus are 253.69, 88.57, 106.07 and 235.59, 84.17, 115.33 N mm⁻², respectively. The best mechanical performance was found in Bambusa vulgaris. The two-bamboo species possess excellent mechanical properties in tensile compression and flexural indicating its application in structural works and an alternative to timber in the country.