Effect of Bamboo Nodes on the Mechanical Properties of P. edulis (Phyllostachys Edulis) Bamboo

In the context of global sustainable development, the use of natural and renewable bamboo as a building material is of great significance for building engineering. As an important part of bamboo, there is still a lack of systematic research on the effect of bamboo nodes on the mechanical properties of bamboo. In this paper, compression parallel to the grain of the bamboo, bending, tensile parallel to the grain, shear parallel to the grain, compression perpendicular to the grain and tensile perpendicular to the grain tests of an entire bamboo culm of P. edulis bamboo were carried out, and the effects of bamboo nodes on moisture content, bearing capacity and mechanical properties were analyzed. The relationship between the mechanical properties and standardized parameters of the node and internode specimens was established. A conversion method of mechanical properties of the same test type was proposed, and a conversion method among different mechanical properties was proposed. The bamboo was graded by tensile strength parallel to the grain. The results show that bamboo nodes have an obvious effect on the moisture content. Bamboo nodes have different effects on the bearing capacity and mechanical properties of different types of specimens. The mechanical properties of P. edulis bamboo can be predicted by the relationship between the mechanical properties and the standardized parameters and the mechanical property conversion method. The strength classification of P. edulis bamboo can be predicted by standardized parameters.

FLEXURAL LOAD AND DEFLECTION BEHAVIOR OF STRUCTURAL BAMBOO FILLED WITH CEMENT MORTAR

Bamboo has been significantly and rapidly used to build temporal and permanent structures since time immemorial. However, this renewable natural material has a low bearing capacity, limiting its application to structures under light loads. Therefore, this research was carried out to determine an innovative scheme capable of enhancing bamboo's load-bearing by filling the cavity with cement mortar. Furthermore, a study was carried out to experiment flexural load carrying capacity and the deflection of mortar-filled structural bamboo by considering the diameter and node parameters. A total of 12 specimens were examined using a four-point bending protocol. The result showed the ultimate flexural load carrying capacity of mortar-filled bamboo specimens are higher than those of the conventional bamboo specimens. Specifically, mortar filled bamboo specimen with a diameter of 70 mm was significantly better, 41.10 and 47.06%, as compared than the conventional bamboo in terms of its flexural load carrying capacity for specimen without and with nodes, respectively. Increases in flexural load carrying capacity were also observed for the mortar-filled bamboo specimens having 80 and 90 mm diameter and these observed increases were recorded as 104.55 and 112.00%, and 48.72 and 60.74%, respectively for specimen without and with nodes. Furthermore, the deflection of mortar-filled bamboo elements are substantially greater than those of conventional. Finally, the advantages of the bamboo diameter and bamboo nodes on the flexural load carrying capacity indicated that these essential findings need to be carefully considered in designing structural elements for both mortar-filled and conventional bamboos.

BAMBOO NODES ASSOCIATED WITH VASCULITIS OF VOCAL CORDS AS INITIAL MANIFESTATIONS OF RHUPUS SYNDROME

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EP09 Bamboo nodes in a patient with mixed connective tissue disease

Background Vocal cord lesions related to autoimmune diseases have been described as early as 1959, when Scarpelli et.al described a case of a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with laryngeal oedema. Pathological examination of the tissue revealed inflammatory cells and the lesions were labeled as “inflammatory nodules”. Since then numerous case reports were published describing patients with rheumatic diseases and abnormal vocal cords with Hosako et al. in 1993 proposing the term “bamboo nodes”. Methods A 27 year old female, lifelong nonsmoker, developed a husky voice which persisted through the day. She had no odynophagia or dysphagia and occasionally suffered from heartburn.She reported feeling fatigue and described a non-blanching purpuric rash affecting her lower limbs. She was referred to rheumatology and also to ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist for further assessments including laryngeal endoscopy and autoimmune screen. Results The video laryngeal endoscopy revealed an area of linear thickening of the left mid-vocal fold. There was no evidence of reflux or muscle tension. Immunological test's revealed positive antinuclear, ribonuclear and Sm antibodies, with normal serum complement. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was raised with normal C-reactive protein and there was a polyclonal increase of immunoglobulins. A diagnosis of mixed connective tissue disease with bamboo nodes was made. Her treatment consisted of local corticosteroid injections into the vocal cords with prednisolone 5mg (Solu-DecortinR) and systemic corticosteroids followed by hydroxychoroquine 5mg/kg and azathioprine 2mg/kg. Patient improved clinically but still requires speech therapy as adjunctive to the pharmacological treatment. Conclusion Bamboo nodes are a rare manifestation of autoimmune diseases and currently there is no gold standard on how to manage them. This case highlights the need of close collaboration between ENT, rheumatology and speech&language therapy. Disclosures D.C. Christidis None. M. Lloyd None.