The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of anatomical characteristics of Ethiopian lowland bamboo on selected physical and mechanical properties. A total of 45 solid culms from three different age group...The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of anatomical characteristics of Ethiopian lowland bamboo on selected physical and mechanical properties. A total of 45 solid culms from three different age groups (2-, 3- and 4- year-old) were harvested from natural bamboo forest in Ethiopia and then samples were transported to China for carrying out anatomical characteristics test. Physical and mechanical properties testing were conducted in Ethiopia. The result indicates that age and height had significant effects on fiber length, fiber diameter and fiber wall thickness and insignificant effects on vascular bundles concentration. More over, fiber length, fiber diameter and vascular bundle size have a significant effect on both properties of this solid culm. The density and moisture content (MC) were highly affected by age and height variations. Density increased with an increase of age and MC decreased with an increase of age. The higher values of modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were obtained in the middle portions of height. Both values showed decreasing trend towards the top portion. Compression strength of culms decreases with increases of age and height. The results of correlation analyses revealed that the fiber length, the fiber diameter and the fiber wall thickness all had a positive correlation with the density and a negative correlation with MC. All anatomical variables showed insignificant correlation with all the shrinkages except the fiber wall thickness that showed a negative correlation with the radial shrinkage. The result further revealed a positive correlation of density with MOR and a negative correlation with MOE. The fiber length also showed a positive correlation with MOE. Both the fiber diameter and the vascular bundle size showed a positive correlation with the compression strength. However, MC showed a negative correlation.展开更多
文摘The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of anatomical characteristics of Ethiopian lowland bamboo on selected physical and mechanical properties. A total of 45 solid culms from three different age groups (2-, 3- and 4- year-old) were harvested from natural bamboo forest in Ethiopia and then samples were transported to China for carrying out anatomical characteristics test. Physical and mechanical properties testing were conducted in Ethiopia. The result indicates that age and height had significant effects on fiber length, fiber diameter and fiber wall thickness and insignificant effects on vascular bundles concentration. More over, fiber length, fiber diameter and vascular bundle size have a significant effect on both properties of this solid culm. The density and moisture content (MC) were highly affected by age and height variations. Density increased with an increase of age and MC decreased with an increase of age. The higher values of modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were obtained in the middle portions of height. Both values showed decreasing trend towards the top portion. Compression strength of culms decreases with increases of age and height. The results of correlation analyses revealed that the fiber length, the fiber diameter and the fiber wall thickness all had a positive correlation with the density and a negative correlation with MC. All anatomical variables showed insignificant correlation with all the shrinkages except the fiber wall thickness that showed a negative correlation with the radial shrinkage. The result further revealed a positive correlation of density with MOR and a negative correlation with MOE. The fiber length also showed a positive correlation with MOE. Both the fiber diameter and the vascular bundle size showed a positive correlation with the compression strength. However, MC showed a negative correlation.
