Variation in Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Tre Gai bamboo (Bambusa stenostachya) with Position in the Culm

Bamboo, with its high strength-to-weight ratio as a fiber-reinforced composite material, has wide applications throughout the world. Tre Gai (bambusa stenostachya) bamboo is a popular industry material in Vietnam. This paper attempts to characterize the microstructure and mechanical properties of Tre Gai bamboo through a variety of tests and models. Volume fraction of fiber sheath with radial position in Tre Gai was consistent with other species; however, its fiber arrangement lacked a typically observed sheath in the inner and middle culm. Moreover, although the Tre Gai bamboo’s structural trends differ from that of other bamboo species, its mechanical patterns are consistent with those same species. Bamboo is a diverse and unique material, whose attractive microstructure and mechanical properties make it viable for a range of applications.