Experimental Evaluation and Predictive Modeling of Mechanical Properties of Indian Bamboo Species

Bamboo has an excellent mechanical performance, which, coupled with its sustainability, makes it an alternative to conventional building material. This work analyzes and compares the mechanical properties of five Indian bamboo species: Melocanna baccifera, Bambusa balcooa, Dendrocalamus giganteus, Bambusa tulda, and Bambusa nutans. Testing using ISO standards showed that B. tulda proved very promising. Correlation analyses were used to study the mechanical characteristics of its physical features, including the diameter, density, and thickness of the culm. This study also offers empirical models developed through machine learning and fine-tuned to predict mechanical properties of B. tulda. These models provide the basis for prediction of bearing, shear, compressive, and tensile strengths based on defined features. This work thus adds to the emerging popularity of bamboo as a sustainable construction method by widening the knowledge base and the availability of predictions that may be useful during the material selection process for green building projects.