• Energy Research

Bamboo is a natural biodegradable material used as a strength-bearing material that operates for system works, formwork supporting stands, structural members in low-rise houses, props, framing, bridges, laminated flooring, facades, walls, roofs, and trusses. Over recent years, there has been an increased demand for bamboo, considering sustainable construction practices. Exploring bamboo’s physical and mechanical behaviour is essential to develop innovative construction methods and design guidelines. Therefore, this paper aims to review the studies on bamboo culms’ material properties and physical behaviour, considering the load-bearing capacity and structural adequacy. This study summarises the physical and mechanical properties of a wide array of bamboo species grown worldwide. Mechanical properties such as compressive, tensile, flexural, shear, and bucking strengths are explored, highlighting the key findings in previous experimental works. Results have indicated a significant variability in bamboo’s material and mechanical properties considering the growth conditions, location along a culm, geometric imperfections and environmental conditions. In addition to material and mechanical properties, structural bamboo connections, engineered bamboo products, and preservative treatment of bamboo are also investigated. The construction industry can utilise the summary of the findings of this study to develop design guidelines for sustainable bamboo construction. Overall, this paper presents an overview of structural capability and drawbacks for future research and development using bamboo in modern construction.

Crossarms are widely used in power distribution and telecommunication sectors to support overhead cables. These structures are horizontally attached to the top of vertically erected utility poles and are essential elements in connecting overhead cables to the poles. Timber is the dominantly used material type for crossarms in the existing distribution networks. Nevertheless, there are alternative crossarms made from steel, composites, polymers, and even from concrete. This paper reviews the studies on the condition assessment of timber crossarms considering the aspects of decay identification and flexural strength assessment. The limitations and shortcomings of the conventional inspection techniques for crossarms are presented. Then, the studies on the developments of non-destructive test methods to address these issues are reviewed. Further, the results from the experimental work conducted to assess the structural capacity of in-service crossarms are presented and analysed. In addition, the possible future advancements of alternative crossarm types are also discussed, considering the mechanical strength, durability performance, and sustainability aspects. This paper aims to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of different condition assessment techniques for crossarms, indicating the importance of an integrated approach combining both the conventional and non-destructive testing techniques.