Applications of bamboo fiber and bamboo stem ash with styrene butadiene rubber in cement mortar for sustainable structural application

Abstract

Abstract In several developing countries, rapid population growth has led to a shortage of adequate housing. This issue is further intensified by the overuse of traditional construction materials and the environmental concerns linked to their production, particularly the high levels of carbon dioxide emissions. Consequently, the search for environmentally sustainable alternatives has gained momentum. Bamboo, a traditional building resource, has re-emerged as a promising material due to its potential application in construction. This study explored the replacement of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in mortar with bamboo stem ash and alkali-treated bamboo fibers. Various mix ratios were developed and analyzed using the Taguchi method, and the results were validated through analysis of variance (ANOVA), microstructural observations, and energy efficiency evaluation. The optimized mixes demonstrated notable improvements compared to conventional mortar, with an increase in compressive strength of up to 98.42%, flexural strength gains of up to 24%, a 21.7% decrease in dry density, and water absorption limited to 1.52%. Important characteristics of mortar mixes reinforced with bamboo fibers, including as compressive strength, flexural strength, water absorption, and dry density, were efficiently evaluated using the Taguchi technique and is recommend for sustainable bamboo reinforced wall panels.