EFFECTS OF ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS ON THE PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF <em>BAMBUSA</em> <em>BLUMEANA</em>

Abstract

This paper discusses the physical, mechanical and anatomical characteristics of one- to three-year-old Bambusa blumeana. The physical and mechanical properties such as moisture content, shrinkage, shear and static bending were correlated to the anatomical characteristics. Density and shrinkage, but not moisture content, were significantly correlated to radial/tangential ratio of vascular bundles. Except for the modulus of rupture, all the mechanical properties increased with age, height, density, frequency of vascular bundles and fibre wall thickness.