Team investigates potential of bamboo for home construction

According to a statement, bamboo holds a number of benefits over other construction materials as it grows extremely quickly, reaching maturity three times faster than hard woods, and is renowned for a strength that is comparable to steel.

However, inherent drawbacks currently prevent the widespread use of this material. Bamboo has limited durability when exposed to UV rays and humidity, and its thin walls and empty internal diaphragm imply that it has poor fire resistance.

The research team, including the universities of Cambridge and Coventry, is working to develop an understanding of the anatomy and structural applications of bamboo in order to modify it to overcome these limitations, while maintaining its unique mechanical properties.

Working in collaboration with Colombian organisations, including the National University of Colombia, the Andes’ University and the Colombian Bamboo Society, the researchers from UK institutions aim to draw on existing Colombian knowledge of bamboo to exploit this material in the construction industry.