Building of small bamboo shelter : joint design and testing

• Main Author: Toh, Weiqiao.
• Other Authors: Lee Chi King
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/38824
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Many of the developing and developed countries both faced problems of natural disasters such as earthquake, flooding, typhoon and tsunami attacks. The occurrences of recent earthquakes have caused millions to be homeless. Current interventions on earthquakes gave poor living conditions and take a long time in its recovery stage due to financial limitations. The objectives of this project are to design for joints based on the given architectural plans done by the previous Final Year Project. Secondly, the designed joints are to be simple and have the ability to be structurally adequate for normal loadings and be able to withstand earthquake conditions. Thirdly, the choices of materials have to be affordable, easily available, eco-friendly and easy to construct so as to achieve rapid and fast deployable bamboo house. The fast growing woody plant, bamboo, has been selected as one of the components in building the bamboo house. This unique characteristic has given the people in the disaster struck areas a chance to have a temporary housing which is sturdy and healthier living conditions. At the same time, the intervention will be more eco friendly and move towards sustainability. Based on the Architectural plan layout given by previous Final Year Projects, several critical joints such as T joints, X joints were selected and investigated. Brainstorming on the conceptual designs was performed by the groups so as to achieve a joint that is practical and construct able. Besides that, direct shear strength tests will also be conducted on the selected joints. Working as group of 4, this report will cover only the testing method for T joint, fabrication and test results of T joint with and without galvanised steel plate B. Details on the process of joint design, fabrication and test results of T joint( 1 screw) and T joint (2 screws) can be referred to Nanyang Technological University Final Year Project 2009/10 – ST25AB, Mr. Sze Yu sheng’s report. For X joints, references can be made to Nanyang Technological University Final Year Project 2009/10 – ST26AB, Mr. Ng Yue Chao’s and Ong Shi Min’s report. Lastly, a continual of this project will be expected to be carried out by the next batch of students, more samples of the prototypes shall be tested in order to determine the actual performance of each joints.