The effect of microstructure on mechanical properties of Phyllostachys pubescens

Abstract

To reveal the effects of vascular bundle and sheath-node tissues on mechanical strength, moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) was investigated via compression, bending, and tension tests. Quantitative analysis was applied on vascular bundle and sheath-node tissues using a mosaicking technique and Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software. Based on the analysis of internode and node specimens, it was found that 1) there was a significant difference between the tissues proportion and mechanical strength. A high tissues proportion resulted in a high compression strength, tension strength, and modulus of rupture, but a low modulus of elasticity. 2) There was no significant correlation between the tissues proportion and failure modes. 3) The presence of a bamboo node decreased the modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and tension strength, but it did not affect the compression strength. 4) A bamboo node increased the likelihood of brash tension failure in the bending test and splintering tension failure in the tension test, but decreased the probability of splitting failure in the compression test. 5) The effects of bamboo node on strength were due to the irregular sheath-node and undifferentiated vascular bundles.