PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF GLUED LAMINATED BAMBOO LUMBER

Glued laminated bamboo lumber (GLBL) made of Dendrocalamus asper, Dendrocalamus giganteus, Dendrocalamus latiflorus and Gigantochloa levis has potential to overcome the shortage of wood supply. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of bamboo species on the properties of GLBL. Laboratory-scale GLBL was manufactured from 26-28 bamboo strips from each bamboo species, assembled vertically, glued with 250 g m(-2) of water-based polymer-isocyanate, and applied force horizontally on the wooden clamps at room temperature for one hour. The dimensions of GLBL was 60 cm x 16 cm x thickness. Statistical analysis revealed that bamboo species significantly influenced the properties of GLBL. It was recorded that D. asper had superior physical and mechanical properties compared to other bamboo species in this study. The mechanical properties of D. asper GLBL were corresponding to wood strength class I, while GLBL made of D. giganteus, D. latiflorus and G. levis had equivalent strength to wood strength class II. The findings in this study affirmed that GLBL made of four bamboo species are promising materials for furniture and building components.