EFFECTS OF ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS ON THE PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BAMBUSA BLUMEANA

Abstract

cal properties of Bambusa blumeana. This paper discusses the physical, mechanical and anatomical characteristics of one- to three-year-old Bambusa blumeana. The physical and mechanical properties such as moisture content, shrinkage, shear and static bending were correlated to the anatomical characteristics. Density and shrinkage, but not moisture content, were significantly correlated to radial/tangen tial ratio of vascular bundles. Except for the modulus of rupture, all the mechanical properties increased with age, height, density, frequency of vascular bundles and fibre wall thickness.