Bamboo as a construction material: from plants to structures

Authors

• Hanlin Wei
• Angelo Aloisio
• Da Shi
• Ruijia Wu
• Massimo Fragiacomo
• Mauricio Cardenas Laverde
• Zhi Li
• Bo Shan
• Edwin Zea Escamilla
• Kristof Crolla
• Luis Felipe Lopez
• Juan F. Correal
• Kewei Liu
• Umberto Berardi
• Elias G. Dimitrakopoulos
• Yan Xiao
• Cristoforo Demartino

Abstract

Amid the global push for sustainable construction, bamboo has been widely studied as a rapidly renewable, high-performance building material. This paper reviews the published literature on bamboo’s journey from plant to structural component. The review first examines the fundamental botanical characteristics of bamboo, explaining the relationship between its hierarchical structure—from molecular to cellular levels—and its mechanical properties. It then transitions to an analysis of sustainable forestry, harvesting practices, the structural uses of round bamboo, and the manufacturing processes for engineered bamboo products, such as glued laminated bamboo and bamboo scrimber. Critical performance challenges are addressed by evaluating modern treatment methods that enhance durability, dimensional stability, and fire resistance. Structural applications are explored in detail,