The Institute of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET-Gh), has taken notice of the increasing interest in the use of bamboo as a reinforcement material in concrete, as well as its adoption as a construction material.
According to IET-Gh, this recent trend, which it has not endorsed, fails to recognize the need for careful consideration and further research on the potential benefits of bamboo in its raw state. "The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET-GH), has taken note of the increasing interest in the use of bamboo as a reinforcement material in concrete, which has been circulating across various social media channels nationwide.
Additionally, some clients have adopted this material in construction, mistakenly believing it has been endorsed without seeking expert guidance. "It is important to clarify that while the IET-GH, particularly its Civil Engineering Division, recognizes the potential benefits of bamboo in its raw state, as a laminate, and as a composite material, the use of bamboo as a direct replacement for steel reinforcement in concrete requires careful consideration and further research.
Bamboo is a natural composite polymeric material, composed of a lignin matrix with fibrous elements, which are naturally bound together as an organic composite.