Preliminary Experimental Investigation on Splitting of Bambusa polymorpha

The study was investigated the splitting failure of Bambusa polymorpha through two testing methods: fracture test and edge bearing test. This is mainly done with an aim to generate preliminary data for studying splitting behaviour of Bambusa polymorpha. The fracture test appears to yield both reliable and accurate results, but so far only one geometry has been tested for split pin test. It has yet to be shown whether a change in the pin diameter, the culm diameter, or the size of the initial crack will have any effect on the stress intensity obtained. It is further proposed that selecting a pin diameter similar to that used for bolted connections may help to develop appropriate values for design. In edge bearing test there is no significant differences were found in considering specimen with different length. As the engineering interest in bamboo is recent, there are many areas still requiring further investigation. The fracture test appears to yield both reliable and accurate results, but so far only one geometry has been tested. In edge bearing test there is no significant differences were found in considering specimen with different length.