Building with Bamboo: a Review of Culm Connection Technology

Interest in the engineering performance of bamboo is on the rise primarily due to its rapid regenerative qualities and high strength-to-weight ratio. It has been a standard, sustainable building material for thousands of years in Asia and South America, where it grows naturally. Although there are many examples of magnificent bamboo structures, standards and documentation on safe and reliable bamboo design are scarce, particularly for connection design. Traditional connections involve friction-tight lashings (eg. ropes and cords of dried grasses) and pin-and-socket connections such as dowels and pegs, but more recent advances have involved integration with steel hardware and concrete. This paper presents bamboo as a feasible alternative building material and presents a review of past, current and emerging technologies to join hollow bamboo culms in structural applications. The paper's intent is to give an overview of the current state of bamboo connection technology and to promote developments in the emerging field of bamboo engineering. Recent technological advances and visionary architects have proven that it is possible to create safe structures that are not only sustainable but have tremendous potential for use in disaster relief and quick-build scenarios.