Abstract
Bamboo has been in wide usage since ancient times as a low-cost material for houses, bridges etc. They are the largest members of the grass family & are the fastest growing in the world. It grows approximately 4 feet in a day [in 24 hours time period]. Bamboos are of noteable economic & cultural significance in South Asia, South East Asia and East Asia, being use for bldg. materials as a food source & as a versatile raw product. Bamboo has higher compressive strength than wood brick / concrete & tensile strength that rivals steel & for height. Bamboo can resist forces created by high velocity wind and earthquakes .This is a substitute building material which is renewable, environment friendly & widely available, as the wood resources are diminishing & restrictions are imposed on felling the natural forests. Due to its rapid growth its adaptability to most climate conditions & due to its properties Bamboo emerges as a very suitable alternative. The demand of timber in increasing worldwide at rapid rate but the supply is depleting. Industrial treated bamboos have shown great potential for production of composite Materials and components which are cost effective and can be successfully utilised for structural & non-structural applications in construction. Uses of bamboos in construction: footing, trusses , walls ,scaffolding ,tile roofing, reinforcement etc. Advantages of using bamboo: strong natural fibre, versatile material, extremely flexible, lightweight in comparison to other conventional bldg. material, sustainable & renewable ,cost effective ,construction can be done with simple tools, controls soil erosion ,bamboo consumes high quantities of nitrogen so it reduces water pollution, as the urban spaces are surrounded by industries it is essential to grow bamboo alongside industrial area where it converts waste water into nutrients for its own growth , enhancement in organic farming, it is also known to desalinate sea water ,its natural waxy surface doesn’t require painting making it safe from health hazards caused by paints(they contain toxic substances) ,out of all the bldg. materials bamboo is least hazardous in terms of waste as it can be recycled & does not have disposal problems. There are also few limitations of using bamboo which can be overcome easily .They are as follows: Bamboo is prone to insect & fungal invasion ,so hazardous pesticides are used on it but not in its cultivation ,special fastening techniques are required while joining pieces of bamboo., special skill is required in designing and constructing with bamboos. The realisation that bamboo is the most potentially important non timber resource and rapid growing woody biomass, has evoked keen interest in the processing, reservation, utilisation and the promotion of bamboo has an alternative to wood and as building material in creating healthy and inclusive urban environment. The detailed case study will be presented in paper later. KEY WORDS : BAMBOOS , RENEWABLE , ECONOMICAL.,VELOCITY,DESALINATE.
