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.