Digital image correlation analysis of laminated bamboo under transverse compression

The use of laminated bamboo in structural applications is increasing, but the failure mechanisms of the material need further investigation. This study investigated the failure of laminated bamboo under compressive loading using digital image correlation (DIC). Notably, the unique speckled appearance of a bamboo transverse section, resulting from the spatial distribution of vascular fibre bundles in the parenchyma matrix, was directly used for DIC; no sample preparation was necessary. A 45° degree shear face originated from the joint between several strips and led to the ultimate failure of the samples. However, when the strain exceeded ~30% the analysis broke down due to sections of the specimen shearing off the sample. Our methodology demonstrates the potential of directly imaging laminated bamboo during mechanical testing to reveal complex full-field in-plane strain distribution, and the development and on-set of failure in the material. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.