Development of Laminated Bamboo Lumber from Lowland Bamboo (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) Culms Grown in Pawe, Ethiopia

The aim of this paper was to develop laminated bamboo lumber (LBL) from the two-culm position of Oxytenanthera abyssinica (O. abyssinica) and to examine its basic physical and mechanical characteristics. Samples of lowland bamboo (O. abyssinica) culms were selected and harvested from Pawe Agricultural Research Center site, Pawe, Ethiopia. Three-ply LBL samples were fabricated using urea formaldehyde resin, and then sample specimens were prepared from the fabricated LBL, and the selected basic properties were tested including density, static bending, impact bending and hardness strengths. The result depicted the mean values of density (863 kg/m3), modulus of elasticity (15743 N/mm2), modulus of rupture (149 N/mm2), impact bending strength (18633 Nm/m2), and side hardness (3145 N) obtained in the fabricated LBL of O. abyssinica culm. The results revealed that density and the tested mechanical properties in this study were significantly affected by culm position in the culm height, with the exception of the impact bending, which was not affected by culm position. Superior density and strength performances were observed in the middle position of bamboo compared to the bottom position. The laminated bamboo lumber produced from O. abyssinica culm has the potential to be utilized as a substitute for wood material in building and other end products.