Stiffness and stability of bamboo stem- A optimal design perspective

Sayyad M., Bachchhav B., Salunkhe S. S., Cepova L., Struz J., Abouel Nasr E., ...More

Heliyon, vol.10, no.16, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 10 Issue: 16
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35403
  • Journal Name: Heliyon
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CAB Abstracts, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Keywords: Bamboo, Delamination, Functionally graded material, Mechanical integrity, Optimal design, Stelar arrangement
  • Gazi University Affiliated: No

Abstract

During the evolution process, a bamboo stem achieves a significant height (up to 20 m) to fulfil its phototropic requirements. While on land, the stem is mostly subjected to bending load which makes it liable to fail by uprooting. However, this failure is prohibited by smart structure of bamboo stem which includes graded arrangement of fibre bundles in the cross-section and a tapered cantilever form of the stem. This paper attempts to understand the optimal design of bamboo stem through the relationship between the stellar arrangement of stiff fibre bundles in the cross-section and the tapered form. In this work, a comparison between two types of stellar arrangement, namely uniform and graded, is presented in view of non-linear bending analysis through elastica theory and fracture-induced delamination, both numerically. It is observed from the results that a bamboo stem prefers to evolve with graded stellar arrangement which provides gradation of stiffness and toughness over the cross-section; the trend in toughness being opposite to that of stiffness. Moreover, interplay of stellar arrangement and gradation of stiffness-toughness thereof is found to be the governing mechanism for ensuring its mechanical integrity and stability in view of an optimal design perspective. The smart structure of bamboo is recommended for bio-mimicking.