Godina Rodriguez, Martha Cecilia;
(2019)
Design framework for bamboo culms - A study of bamboo reciprocal structures.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
Preview |
Text
PhDThesis_MGodina.pdf - Accepted Version Download (13MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Bamboo is a fast-growing plant and renewable material that has the potential to contribute to the development of a more sustainable construction industry. However, the poor understanding of the use of round bamboo (culm) as a building material, including appropriate methods for determining its material properties, jointing techniques and structural systems, prevents its wider use in construction. The cause of many of the issues of bamboo in construction is associated with its inherent variable and irregular properties. This thesis presents a design framework set out to address these issues by incorporating the non-uniform properties of bamboo as part of the design process. It consists of various methods, mostly based on digital technologies, for determining, analysing and managing the data gathered of geometric, physical and mechanical properties to develop a discretised digital model of bamboo culms with non-uniform embedded properties. The geometry of bamboo culms is determined using 3D scanning. The mechanical properties are also measured by a combination of mechanical testing on small samples, image processing of the microstructure and numerical models. Methods that minimise the time to measure physical properties were tested, including the adaptation of the data obtained from a moisture meter designed for wood. In this research, the framework was demonstrated by using reciprocal systems as a potentially sound structural system for the construction of wide span bamboo structures. Reciprocal systems have the advantage of joining only two elements at a time, thus simplifying the design of connections. This research provides insight into the viability of transferring these digital technologies to the bamboo industry with the aim of providing a platform for the design and construction of safe bamboo structures thereby encouraging the usage of bamboo for sustainable construction. The advantages and challenges of the proposed methods are discussed, and possible directions for future research are outlined.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Design framework for bamboo culms - A study of bamboo reciprocal structures |
| Event: | UCL (University College London) |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2019. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10080507 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
