Compression properties of vascular boundles and parenchyma of rattan (Plectocomia assamica Griff)

Abstract

Abstract Rattan is a unique unidirectional vascular bundles-reinforced biocomposite with many nodes along its canes. Mechanical compression tests have been performed from rattan samples taken from different parts of the cross section. Compression strength increased with increasing amounts of vascular bundles (VBs) in the tissues was investigated. Samples including the outer ring with many VBs have the highest apparent Young’s modulus of 1.08 GPa and the highest compression strength of 17.6 MPa. However, samples consisting of parenchyma cells had an apparent Young’s modulus of 25 MPa, and the compression strength of 1.81 MPa. The compression properties of core samples improved with increasing amounts of VB. The apparent Young’s modulus and compression strength of a single VB were 730 MPa and 6.87 MPa, respectively, and were calculated according to the rule of mixture of composites.