Impact bending properties of glubam and SPF

Abstract

This study investigates the impact bending properties of two types of glued laminated bamboo (glubam), namely thick-strip (G1) and thin-strip (G2), in comparison with spruce-pine-fir (SPF) timber. Pendulum impact tests were conducted to evaluate impact toughness and dynamic modulus of rupture (MOR), considering the anisotropic nature of glubam by applying loads along different directions. Results indicate that G1 specimens exhibited superior impact toughness and dynamic MOR compared to G2 and SPF. The failure modes were significantly influenced by loading direction, with X-axis loading causing delamination and Z-axis loading leading to fiber pull-out. SPF demonstrated the lowest impact resistance. The findings provide valuable insights for optimizing hybrid cross-laminated bamboo-timber (CLBT) composites in structural applications, highlighting the potential of bamboo-based materials as sustainable alternatives to conventional wood.