Flexural Performance of Bamboo Reinforced Foamed Aerated

Abstract

The results of investigation conducted to evaluate the flexural performance of foamed aerated concrete beams with bamboo splints as tensile reinforcement, but with and without shear links are reported in this paper. The properties assessed are: density, compressive strength, crack pattern, deflection, and failure and moments. Foamed aerated concrete, having a cement-sand ratio of 1:3 was prepared. For foam generation, foaming agent and water in the ratio of 1:33 was prepared. A total of seventy two numbers of 225 x 225 x 2350 mm beam specimens with bamboo splints as reinforcement, with and without shear links and compression reinforcement were tested for flexural strength. For the shear links, 8mm diameter steel reinforcement at 150 mm centres was used. The specimens were tested at 7, 21, 28 and 45 days of curing. The results showed that beams specimens without compression and shear reinforcement exhibit shear failure while the beam specimens with compression and shear reinforcement displayed flexural failure. Larger deflection was recorded for beams without compression and shear reinforcement than for beam specimens with compression and shear reinforcement. Also beam specimens with compression and shear reinforcement developed higher moment than specimens without compression reinforcement. From the results of the investigations, it can be conclude that specimens with compression reinforcement in the compression zone displayed a better flexural performance than specimens without compression reinforcement in the compression zone.