PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF <em>GIGANTOCHLOA</em> <em>SCORTECHINII</em> BAMBOO SPLITS AND STRIPS

Abstract

The results of the physical studies of 4-year-old bamboo  splits  and  strips  indicated  that within the culm wall, the moisture content decreased  from  the interior  outwaYds  while its relative density increased. Ver tically, the moisture content  decreased  with  height while the relative density increased. Bamboo strips shrank inure in both radial and tangential directions compared with splits and outer splits. The mean  value  of  the modulus of rupture (MOR) for the bamboo strips ( I 79.6 Nmm^-2) showed no significant difference with splits (periphery positioned upward, 158.3 Nmm^-2) but a significant difference  was  observed  when  compared  with  the  periphery positioned   downwards (134.2 Nmm^-2) . The average value of the compressi run parallel to grain for splits (85.1 Nmm^-2)  was  higher  than  that  for  strips  (73  Nmm^-2)  but  was  not   statistically significantly different (p < 0.05) .