Bamboo has several advantages as a building material including being earthquake proof, high strength yet light weight, elastic, and cost effective. However, it requires proper treatment to prevent issues like shrinkage, durability, and joint reliability. Splitting, shaping, and bending are common processing techniques. Bamboo can be used to construct walls, scaffolding, and other structures when joined properly without nails that may cause splitting. Ferrocement is a type of reinforced concrete made of cement, sand and closely spaced metal mesh that has high tensile strength but low shear strength. Hempcrete is a building material created by mixing hemp shiv, lime, and water to form a moldable composite used for walls, floors,

1. Bamboo :
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Earthquake proof
• High strength
• Light in weight
• Elasticity
• Cost effective
• Easy to use
• Require preservation
• Shrinkage
• Durability (has to be
properly treated against
fungus and insects or can
be a problem)
• Jointing (despite of
various joineries
structural reliability of
bamboo is questionable)

2. Following are the different works involved with use of bamboo:
• Splitting
• Shaping
• Bending
 Splitting of Bamboo
The bamboo canes are split into halves or quarter sections using a knife ideal for the job and setting them apart
by a wedge. About four or eight segments can be acquired which are used as canes, strips or battens. Canes
can be peeled to make strings and ropes up to the age of 18 months.
Shaping of Bamboo Splitting bamboo with a knife
frame

3.  Shaping of Bamboo
Even though bamboos are naturally circular in form but if they are grown in a box of square shape th
acquire a shape as desired.
 Bending of Bamboo
Bamboos can be bent while they are freshly cut by heating them above the temperature of 150° C.
Bamboo will retain this shape even after cooling and drying off.
Bamboo being subjected to bending

4. Walls Construction with Bamboo as a Building Material
Bamboo is extensively used for construction of walls and partitions. Posts and beams
are the main elements normally constructed with bamboo provide structural
framework for walls. They positioned in a way to be able to withstand forces of nature.
An infill is used between framing elements to add strength and stability to the walls.

5. The various types of foundations constructed with bamboo are:
a) Bamboo which is in direct contact with ground surface.
b) Bamboo fixed to rock or preformed concrete footings
c) Composite bamboo or concrete columns
d) Bamboo piles
Bamboo Cuts
These are the most common cuts to use when making bamboo joints:
one ear / two ear / beveled / flute mouth / fish mouth

6. Scaffolding with Bamboo as a Building Material
Due to advantageous properties of bearing heavy load bamboos are considered as
one of the highly-endorsed materials for scaffolding even for tall structures.
For the construction of scaffolding, cane extensions are obtained by lashing cane
ends using several ropes. The ties are positioned in such a way that forces acting
vertically downwards lodge the nodes in the lashing.
This technique has immense significance since the joints can be re-aligned in the
right degree.

7. • Do not use conventional wood nails in bamboo
joinery, they will cause the bamboo to split.
Instead use nylon, steel or vegetal cord of the
appropriate diameter.
•When using bamboo as a column make sure that the lower part
connecting with the surface ends with a node. If not the bamboo will
splinter when struck (for example to position the column).

8. Ferro cement:
Ferrocement - Ferrocement is a form of reinforced
concrete using closely spaced multiple layers of mesh
and/or small diameter rods completely infiltrated with, or
encapsulated in, mortar • synthetic compound composed
of a mix of metallic alloys, ceramic polymers and stone •
has high density and ability to stand for thousands of
years once set in a wide variety of climates and
environmental factors • concrete and iron that was
molecularly bonded to produce a substance with
exceptional resistance to wear and tear

9. ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Highly versatile can be
used for wide amount
of uses
• Good fire resistance
• Low maintenance cost
• High tensile strength
and stiffness
• Goes under high
deformation before
cracking or high
deflection
• Low shear strength
• Low ductility
• Difficulty in using bolt,
screw, welding, etc for
fastening
• Large no of labour
required
• Minimum wall thickness 25 mm
• A cement-sand ratio of 1:1.5 or 1:2 is used.
Portland cement, with or without pozzolana, is generally used for FC.
Plasticizers and other admixtures may also be added to improve the workability.
Therefore, sands with maximum sizes of 2.36 mm and 1.18 mm are recommended for FC mixes.
A water/cement ratio of 0.3 to 0.4 is recommended.

10. Different type of wire mesh used :
Reinforcement For Ferrocement
Skeleton Steel Frame: It is made confirming exactly to the
geometry and shape of the structure. It comprises relatively
large diameter (about 3 to 8 mm) steel rods spaced typically 70
to 100 mm. It may be tied reinforcement or welded wire fabric.
Wire mesh: Consists of galvanized wire of diameter 0.5 to 1.5
mm spaced at 6 to 20 mm center-to-center, is formed by
welding or twisting.
The required number of layers of wire mesh are fixed on both
sides of the skeleton frame.
A spacing of at least 1 to 3 mm is left between two mesh layers.
Wherever two pieces of the mesh are joined, a minimum
overlap of 80 mm should be provided and tied at a close
interval of 80 to 100 mm center-to-center.

11. Hemp concrete :
What is Hempcrete? In a
traditional sense, Hempcrete or
Hemp concrete is a term used to
describe a hemo -lime bio-
composite construction material
It is created by mixing water
through a blend of Shiv (woody
stem of the hemp plant) Lime
based binder The subsequent
reaction creates a moldable
material that is traditionally used
to form Walls Floor slabs Ceilings
Roof insulation

12. • Properties - Strength
• Traditionally very low compressive strength
• Largely put down to the high flexibility of the
aggregates and the arrangement of the particles
• Thermal performance
• Excellent insulator
• Contains a high amount of thermal mass, allowing
buildings internal temperature to fluctuate less and
allow occupants to be more comfortable
• Highly breathable material
• Recyclable
• Easy and non hazardous to work with
• Fire Resistant

14. Straw bale:
Why straw bale building?
• Energy efficiency.
• Healthy choice.
• Cost advantage.
• Structural capabilities.
• Comfort, creativity & aesthetics.
• Resistant against termites & pests.
• Fire resistance, moisture effect & maintenance.
Building straw is used in the form of compressed small bales in
cuboid shape. The bales may not bear any static load. They are
installed and clad between or in front of a stud frame structure
as murals and thermal insulation material. Usually several
layers of clay plaster are applied. Alternatively, a clay floating
can be used and a lime plaster is used for finishing. Wooden
paneling is also common. In any case, the wall created is very
sturdy and the straw surface is protected from the weather.
This is important, because, like all natural materials, straw is
susceptible to moisture damage and mildew.

15. Advantages Disadvantages
• Easy to build
• Renewable nature of straw.
• Low cost.
• Easy availability.
• Naturally fire- retardant.
• High insulation value.
• Low cost alternative for building
highly insulating wall.
• Durable- life of 100years
• Susceptibility to rot.
• Difficulty of obtaining insurance
coverage
• High space requirements for
the straw itself. (thickness of
wall is usually around 18-20
inches)
Self supporting methods:
• Nebraska style
• Use bales as large bricks
• Plastering on both sides
• Limiting to one story
Post & Beam Method :
• Use bales as insulation within an existing
frame
• Plastered on both sides
• Allows for any size house to be built