Abstract
Hollow glued bamboo scrimber (HGBS) columns constructed from bamboo scrimber plates were proposed as structural load-bearing components instead of traditional solid bamboo columns to enhance the stable load of columns without increasing material consumption. To analyze the mechanical behavior of HGBS columns, tests were first conducted on the elastic modulus and compressive strength of bamboo scrimber made from Neosinocalamus affinis to theoretically assess the material’s mechanical properties. A total number of 22 HGBS square cross-section with dimensions of 100 mm columns, varying slenderness ratios and hollow ratios, were fabricated with glued and nailed connections. These columns were subjected to axial compression tests to evaluate their failure modes, axial stiffness, bearing capacity, and ductility. Theoretical calculation models were developed for the HGBS columns to estimate load-bearing capacity. This research provides a comprehensive understanding of HGBS columns and broadens their potential applications in structural engineering.
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Axial Compression and Buckling Behaviors of Hollow Square Glued Bamboo Scrimber Column: An Experimental Study
Xian Yu,a,* Gang Yao,a Yang Yang,a Jianming Zhou,b and Lin Guo a
Hollow glued bamboo scrimber (HGBS) columns constructed from bamboo scrimber plates were proposed as structural load-bearing components instead of traditional solid bamboo columns to enhance the stable load of columns without increasing material consumption. To analyze the mechanical behavior of HGBS columns, tests were first conducted on the elastic modulus and compressive strength of bamboo scrimber made from Neosinocalamus affinis to theoretically assess the material’s mechanical properties. A total number of 22 HGBS square cross-section with dimensions of 100 mm columns, varying slenderness ratios and hollow ratios, were fabricated with glued and nailed connections. These columns were subjected to axial compression tests to evaluate their failure modes, axial stiffness, bearing capacity, and ductility. Theoretical calculation models were developed for the HGBS columns to estimate load-bearing capacity. This research provides a comprehensive understanding of HGBS columns and broadens their potential applications in structural engineering.
DOI: 10.15376/biores.20.4.9678-9698
Keywords: Bamboo structure; Hollow glued bamboo scrimber (HGBS); Axial compressive behavior; Load-bearing capacity; Theoretical calculation model
Contact information: a: School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, No.174 Shazheng Road, Chongqing, 400044, China; b: Sichuan Zhuyuan Technology Co., Ltd., No. 30, Shengke Road Section 2, Hongya Economic Development Zone, 620300, China;
*Corresponding author: yuxian@stu.cqu.edu.cn
INTRODUCTION
Bamboo, with its renewable nature, rapid growth rate, and carbon sequestration ability, stands out as a lightweight material that is inherently resistant to seismic activity. This aligns well with the principles of sustainable development (De Flander et al. 2009; Meng et al. 2023; Zhang et al. 2024;). Despite its advantages, the direct use of bamboo in structural engineering presents challenges, primarily due to its small diameter and relatively soft texture (Mahdavi et al. 2011; Li et al. 2013; Fei et al. 2019). The innovation of bamboo scrimber, through strategic reorganization, enhances its strength and ductility while maintaining mechanical stability. This positions bamboo scrimber as a viable option for structural applications with considerable potential (Qi et al. 2015; Li et al. 2016; Kumar et al. 2016; Sharma and van der Vegte 2020; Dauletbek et al. 2023). The strength-to-weight ratio of bamboo scrimber composite surpasses that of Q235 steel by four or five times, and its tensile and compressive strength are twice those of the esteemed purple sandalwood. However, the modulus of elasticity is not correspondingly increased relative to the source material, which could result in big deformations under external loads before reaching strength failure. With the same amount of material, the moment of inertia of a hollow column’s cross-section is greater than a solid column’s cross-section, resulting in the hollow column having a higher stable load-bearing capacity than the solid column (Wang 2020). Therefore, it is worthwhile to further explore the concept of using hollow cross-sectional designs for primary load-bearing columns to enhance rigidity and material efficiency.
Relevant investigations have been extensively conducted to explore the mechanical properties and engineering applications of engineered bamboo materials (Li et al. 2015, 2019; Kurt and Tomak 2019; Sharma and van der Vegte 2020). Meanwhile, there have also been many studies focusing on beams (Wei et al. 2017; Zhong et al. 2017; Yang et al. 2020), wall panels (Xiao et al. 2015; Wang et al. 2017), and joints (Jensen and Quenneville 2011; Leng et al. 2021). Recent research on bamboo scrimber columns mainly has focused on the axial compression performance or buckling behavior of solid material. Ke et al. (2014) experimentally investigated the mechanical properties of recombined bamboo columns used in frame structures and analyzed the influence of different slenderness ratios on the load-bearing capacity. Su et al. (2015) experimentally studied the axial compression performance of Bamboo Parallel Strand Lumber (PBSL) columns and found that the compression performance of PBSL columns was superior to that of other types of recombined bamboo columns. Li et al. (2015) investigated the axial compression performance of recombined bamboo columns with different slenderness ratios and found that the stress-strain curves exhibited nonlinearity. They proposed a material constitutive relationship based on the Ramberg-Osgood model to accurately describe the nonlinear mechanical behavior of recombined bamboo. The buckling performance of bamboo scrimber columns is one of the research hotspots. Wei et al. (2025) experimentally investigated the axial compression behavior of a new type of laminated bamboo tube and developed a new predictive model to assess the buckling behavior of bamboo tubes under axial compression. Tan et al. (2021) experimentally and numerically investigated the buckling behavior of recombined bamboo columns under axial compression and found that initial geometric imperfections and material nonlinearity affected the buckling performance. They proposed a nonlinear buckling analysis method considering initial imperfections. Hollow components have a higher moment of inertia under the same cross-sectional area, which can enhance the bearing capacity of the components to a certain extent and improve the material utilization rate
Regarding the mechanical behavior of bamboo-based hollow columns, Dewi et al. (2018) revealed three typical failure modes of medium and long columns through systematic tests on 30 specimens – material fragmentation, inelastic buckling, and wall cracking. Based on this, Su et al. (2024) innovatively proposed an anisotropic plate model with a width correction coefficient to better predict the critical buckling load of hollow columns. Further, Zhou et al. (2023) constructed box columns using hot-pressed bamboo fiber-reinforced plates and quantified the influence law of high-to-low width ratio on the overall buckling mode through the combination of experiments and finite element methods. Although there have been numerous experimental studies on the mechanical properties of bamboo scrimber columns, there are still some deficiencies. Particularly, the research on bamboo scrimber hollow columns is extremely limited at present. Only a few studies have explored the failure modes of hollow-section bamboo composite columns, lacking systematic analysis of key parameters such as cross-sectional shape, plate thickness, and hollow rate, and failing to form a unified design theoretical framework. The existing bearing capacity equations are mostly based on the test data of specific cross-sectional forms and have not established a universal buckling design theoretical framework. These research gaps severely restrict the optimization design and application promotion of bamboo scrimber hollow columns in engineering practice.
This study explored the bearing capacity and stability of hollow glued bamboo scrimber (HGBS) columns and investigated their failure modes. Changes in mechanical properties of HGBS columns were also analyzed with comparation of solid columns. This study also examined the impact of different slenderness and hollow ratios on load-bearing capacity, conducted a comparative analysis of existing standards, and developed a calculation equation. The ultimate goal is to create a robust analytical model for their axial compression capacity, promoting the sustainable use of bamboo in construction.
EXPERIMENTAL
Materials
The column elements utilized in this experiment were sourced from Hongya County, Meishan City, Sichuan Province, and constructed from Neosinocalamus bamboo, as shown in Fig. 1. The species of bamboo, age, distribution of internodes, fiber orientation, uniformity of resin impregnation, and thermal pressing parameters are all factors that affect the variation of raw material properties.
To ensure the consistency of test performance, the raw materials used for this test were from the same batch of raw bamboo materials, and the bamboo scrimber plates were produced in the same way. Five samples of the plates from this production batch were selected to test the density, moisture content, and material properties. The coefficient of variation is controlled within 10% to avoid inherent variability. For materials that had not undergone tests yet, they were protected by covering with plastic films and placing desiccants.
Fig. 1. Bamboo scrimber production process
Physical properties of materials
The compressive strength of bamboo scrimber in the longitudinal direction was determined according to the specifications outlined in LY/T 3194 (2020).
Fig. 2. Schematic diagram of material mechanical performance test loading. (a) Compressive test (b), Compressive modulus test
The specimens had a rectangular cross-section measuring 20 mm × 20 mm and the length of 30 mm along the longitudinal axis. To measure the compressive elastic modulus in the same direction, the guidelines provided in GB/T 15777 (2017) were followed. These specimens also featured a rectangular cross-section of 20 mm × 20 mm with the length of 60 mm. Figure 2 presents the configuration of the loading setup, while Table 1 outlines the detailed steps for testing the mechanical performance of the materials.
Table 1. Test Results of Material Performance
Specimen Preparation
To investigate the bearing capacity of HGBS and their potential to enhance stability, as well as to study the main factors affecting the bearing capacity and their impact levels, this study designed an experimental array consisting of eleven groups, each comprising two specimen. The specific properties of the HGBS columns are detailed in Table 2. For example, HS1200T20 represents the HGBS column with a height of 1200 mm, and has a plate thickness of 20 mm.
Table 2. Specific Properties of the HGBS Columns
The fabrication process involved assembling four plates orthogonally aligned into a box-shaped section following grinding and no more than 25 °C drying to ensure a moisture content below 11%. Polyurethane glue was uniformly applied to all joining surfaces. The assembly was then subjected to compression perpendicular to the axis, but clamping, and left to cure naturally for 8 hours. Self-tapping screws of 4.2 mm diameter and 32 mm length were affixed using a nail gun, with the nail holes sealed using a glue and sawdust mixture. The columns were finally trimmed and finished to produce the ready-to-test hollow column specimens, as shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 3. Manufacturing of HGBS columns. (a) Finished product, (b) Production process
Experiment Setup
The compression tests of the HGBS columns were carried out at the Civil Engineering Structures Laboratory, Jiang’an Campus, Sichuan University. A microcomputer-controlled servo-hydraulic pressure testing machine was employed for the test, shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 4. Diagram of the loading device. (a) Test site equipment, (b) Diagram of the device
The maximum load capacity of this equipment was 20,000 kN, and its displacement control system achieved a resolution of 0.01 mm through closed-loop feedback. According to GBT50329 (2012), the columns were supported by ball joints at both ends, providing rotation freedom about two orthogonal axes while restricting lateral translation via hardened steel guide plates. Prior to loading, a two-step alignment protocol was implemented: (1) laser alignment of the specimen’s longitudinal axis with the actuator centerline, (2) pre-loading to 100 kN to verify strain symmetry. Strain gauges (120-50AA), with temperature compensation using dummy gauges, were attached vertically and horizontally at the midspan of all four sides of each column, while a YWD-100 displacement sensor with arrange of 0 to 100 mm, was placed at the midspan to measure lateral displacement. Systematic errors from machine compliance were mitigated by conducting three zero-load pre-loadings. All strain and displacement data were collected in real time using the TDS-530 signal acquisition instrument.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Failure Modes Controlled by Slenderness Ratio
For the groups with different slenderness, the experimental analysis identified three primary failure modes in HGBS, including strength failure, combined strength and instability failure, and instability failure alone. Strength failure was predominantly marked by bamboo splitting and the delamination of adhesive layers, with clear signs of cracking where primary and secondary bonding occurred, including instances where nails were pulled apart. Notably, strength failures were observed at column lengths of 300 mm and 600 mm. Initial fractures were first noted at the secondary bonding sites (e.g., HS300T20-1), with subsequent bamboo yielding at both column ends and the center, followed by further cracking at primary bonding sites. In HS600T20-1, splitting commenced at 5 cm from the base, quickly followed by cracking at the glued joint. The HS600T20-2 specimen initially bent 10 cm below the midpoint, leading to subsequent cracks at both bonding interfaces and eventual nail separation. When the length of HGBS column was less than or equal to 600 mm, the final form of destruction was manifested as crashing, splitting, delamination, and end bearing failure, as shown in Fig. 5. (1). For columns measuring 900 mm and 1200 mm, both strength and instability failures were observed. The HS900T20-1 column displayed S-shaped bending, as shown in Fig. 5. (e). This is due to material yielding, progressing to cracks at both the secondary and primary adhesive joints. Similarly, the HS1200T20-1 column demonstrated subtle S-shaped deformations, starting with cracking at the upper left secondary bonding area and quickly propagating to the right, leading to delamination and nail separation, forming an S+C configuration, as shown in Fig. 5. (f). Columns with lengths of 1500 mm, 1800 mm, and 2400 mm exclusively exhibited instability failures. For instance, HS1500T20-1 and HS1500T20-2 showed C-shaped bending towards alternating axes, as shown in Fig. 5. (g). HS2400T20-2 experienced premature material failure due to initial defects, with no bending observed.
The critical buckling load decreased as the slenderness ratio increased, leading to a higher likelihood of instability failures, which are consistent with the predictions of Euler’s buckling theory (Eq. 1),
(1)
where Pcr is Euler critical buckling load, E is the modulus of elasticity, and l is the length of the column. However, the presence of localized material failures suggests that the behavior of HGBS columns is also influenced by the anisotropic nature of the bamboo scrimber material, which is not fully captured by Euler’s buckling theory. Furthermore, the failure modes of HGBS columns differ from those of solid bamboo columns under similar loading conditions (Goonewardena et al. 2024). Solid bamboo columns typically exhibit more uniform bending and less localized cracking due to their homogeneous structure. In contrast, the hollow design of HGBS columns introduces stress concentrations at the adhesive joints and layer plates, leading to complex failure patterns such as S+C configurations. This highlights the need for specialized mechanical models to predict the behavior of hollow bamboo structures.
Fig. 5. Final failure mode of slenderness control group. (1) Strength failure, (2) Strength & Instability failure, (3) Instability failure; (a) Crushing, (b) Splitting, (c) Delamination, (d) End bearing failure, (e) S shape+Delamination, (f) S+C shape+Nails pulling out, (g) C shape
Failure Modes Controlled by Hollow Ratio
For the groups with different hollow ratio, the failure mode exhibited simultaneous occurrences of material failure and structural instability, as shown in Fig. 6. HS1200-10-1 underwent significant lateral deformation, leading to the collapse of the layer plate and the cracking of the adhesive layer at the lower end. HS1200-10-2 exhibited a sudden rupture in the lower half of the layer plate following lateral deformation. One of the plates in HS1200-20-1 showed obvious bending deformation and the nails had been pulled apart. Meanwhile, HS1200-20-2 only showed overall bending deformation. This might be related to the assembly process of the HGBS columns. For HS1200-30-1, the cracking in the adhesive layer occurred after lateral deformation. For the solid engineered bamboo group, the interlayer of layer plate cracked after lateral deformation. HS1200-E showed minimal lateral deformation, but it still experienced cracking in the adhesive layer. The study highlights the stochastic nature of failure in hollow bamboo columns, which can be attributed to variations in material consistency and adhesive bonding during production. Columns of 300 and 600 mm heights primarily suffered from material failures such as bamboo splitting and adhesive delamination. In contrast, columns of 900 and 1200 mm heights showed a blend of strength and instability failures, characterized by material degradation and buckling. Columns taller than 1500 mm consistently exhibited unstable fractures, primarily manifesting as C-shaped bending along random axes. The study also noted that buckling typically presented as minor lateral deflections resulting from initial bending and eccentric loading during testing. Increasing slenderness ratios exacerbated these effects, notably affecting load-bearing capacity and leading to a sharp increase in deflection upon reaching the critical load value. The hollow ratio also affects the damage pattern, in the case of using the same material, increasing the hollow ratio can improve the lateral stiffness and reduce lateral displacement.
Fig. 6. Final failure mode-hollow ratio control group. (a) HS1200-T10, (b) HS1200-T20, (c) HS1200-T30, (d) HS1200, (e) HS1200-T
Axial Load-displacement Behavior
When fixing the hollow ratio, columns with the length less or equal to 1200 mm showed minimal variation in load-bearing capacity, as shown in Fig. 7. (a). This suggests that the influence of the slenderness ratio is limited, and the material’s inherent strength governs the structural response. As the length of the column was increased, the stiffness of column decreased, and the carrying capacity began to decline, as shown in Fig. 7. (b). This indicates a transition from material-driven failure modes to stability-driven behavior. Buckling effects became more prominent these columns. The effect of hollow ratio is shown in Fig. 7. (c) and (d). Increasing hollow ratio led to both reduced stiffness and lower load-bearing capacity. For instance, the load-bearing capacity of the solid column was four times that of the hollow column with a plate thickness of 10 mm, and its axial compression ratio was also three times that of the latter. By comparing the hollow columns of HS1200-E and solid columns with similar material usage, it can be seen that the hollow columns performed excellently in terms of bearing capacity, while their ductility was half that of the solid group. This indicates that the hollow section tends to concentrate stresses, accelerating the onset of local failures and reducing the column’s stiffness.
The experimental results are shown in Table 3. The initial stiffness, denoted as K, is determined based on the load values at the elastic stage F0 and F1. This calculation considers two load values: 100 and 200 kN. The axial displacement values corresponding to these loads are represented by and respectively. And the calculation of initial stiffness is shown in Eq . 2.
(2)The ductility coefficient was calculated using Eq. 3,
(3)
where um is the ultimate displacement of the component, and uy is the yield displacement of the component. Because the specimen behaves as a non-ideal elastoplastic body, the yield point is calculated using the energy equivalence method (Feng et al. 2017).
Fig. 7. Load-axial displacement diagram. (a) the slenderness group 300mm-1200mm, (b) the slenderness group 1200mm-2400mm, (c) the hollow ratio group, (4) the hollow ratio group
From the evolution pattern of the ductility coefficient index, it can be seen that under the condition that the hollow ratio remained unchanged, the ductility of the HGBS column exhibited a nonlinear change behavior. Specifically, as the slenderness ratio was increased, the ductility coefficient showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing. The test data showed that when λ ≤ 44.6, the ductility coefficient continuously decreased from the initial 1.14 to 0.09, with a reduction of 92%; while when λ ≥ 53.5, the ductility coefficient rose from 0.24 to 0.53, with an increase of over 100%. This nonlinear response reveals that there is a critical correlation between the ductility index of the HGBS column and the slenderness ratio. The critical slenderness ratio was observed in the approximate column length range of 1500 to 1800 mm
Table 3. Experiment Results of HGBS Columns