Experimental and numerical analysis of large-scale bamboo-reinforced concrete beams containing crushed sand

Of many fast growing grasses around the world, bamboo has been persistently investigated as a possible reinforcing element in concrete. In addition to the existing knowledge on the subject, this study has performed an experimental and numerical analysis of flexural behaviour of large-scale bamboo-reinforced concrete beams containing crushed sand. The crushed sand was used as complete replacement of natural river sand at 0 and 100%, while bamboo was substituted for steel reinforcement bars at 50 and 100%. Other concrete ingredients cement, granite, and mixing water were kept constant. Curing of hardened beams was by immersion in water for 28, 56, and 84 days’ regimes. Finite element/numerical modelling and analysis of beams was performed using ABAQUS software. A nonlinear model analysis with static loading was considered with a predefined 3D model. The concrete fracture pattern was smeared crack, in the mode I. The results showed that a partial (50%) or total (100%) replacement of steel with bamboo and total replacement of natural river sand with crushed sand gave somewhat similar performance in flexure as the control beams. As expected, steel-reinforced beams were better in terms of strength across all curing regimes; however, members reinforced with 50% bamboo, although with about 14% lesser strength but having minimal deformation and crack propagation, can also be a sustainable alternative for construction. Overall, the results somewhat validate the obtained experimental flexural strength of the beams.