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ASSESSMENT OF TESTING PROTOCOLS FOR BAMBOO FOR TENSION

PARALLEL TO FIBER

Article  in  International Journal of GEOMATE · October 2020

DOI: 10.21660/2020.74.9207

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 International Journal of GEOMATE, Oct., 2020, Vol.19, Issue 74, pp.31–36
ISSN: 2186-2982 (P), 2186-2990 (O), Japan, DOI: https://doi.org/10.21660/2020.74.9207
Geotechnique, Construction Materials and Environment

ASSESSMENT OF TESTING PROTOCOLS FOR BAMBOO FOR

TENSION PARALLEL TO FIBER

Martin De La Cruz 1, Luis Lopez 2, *Richard De Jesus 3, and Lessandro Garciano4

1, 3,4
De La Salle University (Manila), Philippines
2
Base Bahay Inc., Philippines

*Corresponding Author, Received: 15 June 2019, Revised: 30 Nov. 2019, Accepted: 02 June 2020

ABSTRACT: To determine tension parallel to fiber properties of Bamboo, one can employ ISO 22157.
However, several studies highlighted some challenges in using the method such as premature failure of testing
due to force at clamping and slipping failure at the grips. Hence, this study aimed to look for a solution to
address these challenges. This study investigated, both qualitatively and quantitatively, three testing protocols
in determining bamboo’s tensile strength parallel to fiber – (1) ISO 22157, (2) a modification of ASTM D143,
and (3) Pittsburgh Method. The success rate, test duration, load rate and transmission, specimen preparation,
equipment fabrication, and execution of the three protocols were compared. The physical properties of
bamboos, such as moisture content, density, and shrinkage, were also measured in the study. The results of the
study showed that the modified ASTM D143 test is the most viable method to use in testing the tensile strength
parallel to fiber of bamboos. Modified ASTM D143 produced the highest tensile strength with value equal to
100.36 MPa, compared to specimens tested under ISO 22157 with tensile strength only reaching 94.11 MPa,
while Pittsburgh Test produced the lowest tensile strength of 76.78 MPa. Modified ASTM D143 also yielded
the lowest confidence interval which implied good consistency. Modified ASTM D143 is the recommended
test protocol based on the results of this study as it gained the highest success rate during testing, lowest testing
duration and the easiest to execute.

Keywords: Bamboo, Tensile strength parallel to fiber, ISO 22157, ASTM D143, Pittsburgh method

1. INTRODUCTION bamboo for ceilings, floorings, cabinetry, furniture,

and even as a base of a bicycle [1-2,4-7].
Timber is getting scarce in the Philippines. The Construction application, such as scaffolding, was
need for safe, sustainable, and low-cost housing is also one of the most notable uses of bamboo.
also on the rise. These factors urgently call for an Bamboo is a renewable material, being one of the
alternative for timber used in construction. There fastest growing plants in the world. It can be
are more than 62 species of bamboo growing in the harvested at an age as early as 3 years compared to
Philippines [1]. The species of bamboo that are timber which takes about 25 years to mature and be
abundant in the country are Bambusa blumeana harvested [8]. Since bamboo is technically a grass,
(locally referred to as “kawayang tinik”), it regenerates faster. In 2004, ISO published ISO
Dendrocalmus asper (“giant bamboo”), Bambusa 22157-1 (Bamboo - Determination of physical and
sp. 1 (“bayog”), and Schizostachyum lumampao mechanical properties) with 2 parts: Requirements,
(“buho”) [2]. The abundance of bamboo in the and (2) Laboratory Manual. This test method
Philippines and its potential to be used as a provides guidelines and procedures in conducting
construction material strengthen its value as the tests for determining the strength characteristics
alternative to timber. Bamboo is used as an of bamboo, its important physical properties (like
alternative to wood and it has been considered as moisture content, shrinkage, and density) and the
“poor man’s timber” [3]. Its reputation changed in requirements for conducting all these tests.
recent times with technological developments and
researches [1,4] which led to different uses of

Fig.1 ISO 22157 Specimen (TP1)

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Fig.2 Modified ASTM D143 specimen (TP2)

Fig.3 Pittsburgh method specimen (TP3)

Also, it has published ISO 22156 Bamboo - 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Structural Design. One of the properties that this
test protocol determines, based on [9], is the 2.1 Materials and Equipment
tension parallel to the fiber. However, this test
method exhibited some notable shortcomings: The material used in the study is a homegrown
specimen clamped at the grips failed due to the bamboo known as “kawayang tinik” (Bambusa
force of gripping, and slipping at the grips [10,11]. blumeana) which was sourced from Tarlac,
The study of [12] also observed similar issues and Philippines. The specimen came from several
additionally noticed that it has problems with culms of the said species. Testing was done using
specimen orientation noting that reduction should a Shimadzu UH-1000kN universal testing machine
be made in the tangential direction of the specimen equipped with finely-tuned control loading rate
so as not to remove the extreme inner and outer settings and is available locally. The number of
culm wall fibers from the test coupon. Generally, specimens tested for each protocol was 25.
testing for tension parallel to the grain is difficult
to achieve, and the specimens generally fail in 2.2 Testing Protocols (TP)
combined flexure and shear [10].
There are several inconsistencies observed in 2.2.1 TP1: ISO 22157
ISO 22157 during testing. The study of [10,11] For this protocol, the specimen had gauge area
noticed failure at the grips cause due to the force of 10 mm in width, and a length of 80mm (Fig.1).
demanded by clamping for sufficient hold on the The ends of the test specimen were shaped to
specimen. Additionally, slippage at the grips also ensure failure at the gauge portion. The node of the
occurs. According to [13], adjustments should be bamboo was taken to be exactly at the middle of
made to ISO 22157 in determining properties of the gauge length. Notably, the whole specimen was
bamboo to make sure that the cause of failure is slightly curved. The specimen was cut using a
tension and not failure due to compression because handsaw. The load was applied constantly at a rate
of the grip issues. The study of [14] recommended of 2.0 mm/min.
the adaptation of [15] ASTM D143 for testing
tension parallel to fibers. 2.2.2 TP2: Modified ASTM D143
It is evident that there is a need for The second testing protocol is a modification of
modifications in ISO 22157 to address concerns ASTM D143 which, without modification, is for
about testing of tension parallel to fiber. The study testing of tension parallel to grain for small clear
of [16] had attempted to address one of its issues specimens of timber. The modification of this
by investigating the shear property of bamboo. standard test method, as adopted in this study,
Prior to making any recommendation to ISO 22157, came in the form of special grips which was
verification of a new test protocol is needed, hence, attached to the testing machine to lessen failures.
this study assessed three testing protocols: (1) ISO The specimen was cut using a table saw because
22157 itself, (2) a modification of ASTM D143, the specimen profile requires high precision
and (3) Pittsburgh Method - a test adapted from (Fig.2). A load rate of 1 mm/min was constantly
[11]; in determining bamboo’s tensile strength applied for this test.
parallel to fiber.

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Fig.4 Failure mode of bamboo when tested in tension parallel to grain (Richard and Harries, 2015)

2.2.3 TP3: Pittsburgh method characteristic value, allowable stress and

The Pittsburgh method is a test protocol confidence interval.
adapted from [10]. The specimen (Fig.3) had a
rectangular cross-section dimension with breadth 3.1 Modes of Failure
equal to the culm wall thickness (t), and width (b)
equal to one-half the culm wall thickness or less. The study of [10] discussed three modes of
The specimen width did not exceed 20 mm and failure for testing of bamboo in tension. The first is
included one node in the gauge section. The gauge a fracture that occurs parallel to the grain. This
length was set at 80 mm. The gripped ends of failure mode, however, is considered to be difficult
radially oriented test pieces had softwood tabs to analyze and difficult to achieve. The second
laminated to the breadth dimension using coconut mode of failure is a combination of flexural and
lumber with a thickness of 6mm. The load rate of shear failures while most of the experts and
the test was set at 5mm/min. researchers have decided to discard the third mode.
Moreover, [12] noticed several types of failure
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION in testing bamboo for tension parallel to grain
using the Pittsburgh method (Fig.4) and these are:
Table 1 shows the tensile strength of each tab failure, failure at the interface of the grip and
protocol and the average value of moisture content, gauge, tensile rupture within the gauge,
density, and shrinkage of all specimens. As seen, longitudinal splitting, splintering failure
the Pittsburgh Method (TP3) produced the least (‘brooming’), and, combination of any type
tensile strength average while modified ASTM mentioned. Tension failure and the splintering
(TP2) produced the highest tensile strength. Table tension are the preferred failure modes in bamboo
2 summarizes all tensile strength test results, tested for tension parallel to the grain.

Table 1 Tensile strength (parallel to fiber) summary of test results

Test Average Tensile Moisture Density ρ

Rk, MPa Shrinkage, %
Protocol Strength, MPa Content, % (kg/m3)
TP1 94.11 44.86 10.95 682.48 1.40
TP2 100.36 62.67 10.95 682.48 1.40
TP3 76.78 43.45 10.95 682.48 1.40

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Table 2 Tensile strength (parallel to fiber) values for three (3) testing protocols

Allowable Confidence Confidence Interval

Test Average Rk
Range (MPa) Stress Interval Range@ 95%
Protocol (MPa) (MPa)
(MPa) (MPa) confidence level, MPa
TP1 51.72-145.18 94.11 44.86 9.97 12.89 81.22-106.99
TP2 49.65-131.84 100.36 62.67 13.93 10.09 90.27-110.45
TP3 42.71-102.36 76.78 43.45 9.66 13.59 66.22-93.40

Table 3 Qualitative comparison of three (3) testing protocols

Success Test duration Specimen Preparation Needs Test

Testing Protocol
Rate < 5 min? Difficulty accessory? Difficulty
TP1 68% Yes Mid No Mid
TP2 76% No High Yes Easy
TP3 48% Yes Mid to High No Mid

3.1.1 TP1: ISO 22157 studying and improving the method further to
For the ISO 22157 test (TP1), there were five ensure tension failures during tensile test.
modes of failures observed during testing: bearing,
shear, premature cracking or cracking in grips, 3.2 Qualitative Analysis
tension (parallel to fiber) failure on a node or brittle
tension, and splintering tension failure (parallel to Table 3 shows the success rate of the testing
fiber). Out of 25 specimens, 17 (68%) failed in protocols. The most successful testing protocol
tension (parallel to fiber) while 8 (32%) failed in was the modified ASTM D143 (TP2) with 76% (19
non-tension mode. These different failure patterns out of 25 tests). The least successful method was
observed during the study reinforced the TP3 with 48% (12 out of 25 tests). The success rate
shortcomings of ISO 22157 as highlighted in is taken as the ratio between the number of tests
various studies [10,11]. Non-tension failure was exhibiting tension failure and the total number of
observed notably in many of the specimens (32%) tests. This criterion, in this study, is considered
demanding similar attention to the need for ISO important in deciding which testing protocol can
22157 to be studied further. be best suited for testing bamboo specimens.
It is observed that TP2 had the fastest average
3.1.2 TP2: Modified ASTM D143 testing time with 258 seconds as the grip accessory
There were three modes of failures observed in made the setup simpler. TP1 and TP3 took 534 and
this test protocol: tension brittle, splintering 682 seconds, respectively, to complete the test.
tension parallel, and shear failure. Out of 25 This was attributed to the difference in load
specimens, a total of 19 (76%), failed in tension rates between test protocols. Both TP1 and TP3
(parallel to fiber), 6 specimens (24%) failed in demanded careful attention during setup to ensure
shear. This test protocol obtained the highest that the specimen is oriented parallel to the
percentage of failures in tension compared to the direction of loading in the testing machine.
other test protocols. Tension failures observed in Additionally, for TP1 and TP3, it was observed
this test were the preferred tension failure modes that the load-displayed values were fluctuating due
i.e. tension brittle and splintering tension). to the clamping at the grips. During test, the grips
compressed the specimens and when the specimen
3.1.3 TP3: Pittsburgh method got thin as a result of compression, slipping at the
There were two failures observed: tension grips happen, thus, the fluctuation of values. At the
(parallel to fiber) failure on a node, and bearing beginning of the tests for TP1 and TP3, it took time
failure. Out of 25 specimens, 12 (48%) failed in for the load to increase, as the clamps needed to
tension (parallel to fiber), 13 specimens (52%) did grip the specimen firmly. Qualitative observations
not fail in tension (parallel to the fiber) but instead, for all test protocols were summarized in Table 3.
failed in bearing failure mode. It is to be noted that The preparation of a specimen is very
non-tension failure for this test protocol (52%) was important to obtain the expected failure. For TP1,
even higher than tension failure (48%). This the preparation of the specimen was simple since
significantly high non-tension failure mode called its specimen’s width was larger compared to that
for similar attention as that of TP1 with respect to of the other testing protocols. The specimens for

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 International Journal of GEOMATE, Oct., 2020, Vol.19, Issue 74, pp.31–36

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[17] alternative testing protocol to determine the Copyright © Int. J. of GEOMATE. All rights reserved,
shear strength of bamboo parallel to grain, including the making of copies unless permission is
Maderas Ciencia Y Tecnologia, 21(4), 2019, obtained from the copyright proprietors.
pp.559-564.

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