The flexural performance of vertical steel-plate-reinforced bamboo scrimber beams

Since the elastic modulus of bamboo scrimber is low relative to their strength, the design of bamboo scrimber beams is often restricted by their deformation. Therefore, this study proposes vertical steel plate-reinforced bamboo scrimber (PRBS) beams to improve the stiffness of bamboo scrimber beams more effectively while improving bearing capacity, thereby increasing the span and expanding the application scope of bamboo scrimber beams. To study the mechanical properties of PRBS beams, flexural loading tests on 21 beams were performed under 7 working conditions, and the effects of different thicknesses, opening ratios, and arrangements of built-in steel plates on the flexural performance of PRBS beams were studied. The results showed that the PRBS beams have two ultimate failure modes: tensile failure of the beam bottom and lateral buckling of the beam. Compared with Reference beams, PRBS beams with solid steel plate exhibit 45-51% higher bearing capacity and 52-104% higher stiffness, and PRBS beams with perforated steel plate exhibit 22-33% higher bearing capacity and 35-48% higher stiffness. In addition, a theoretical analysis was conducted on the flexural bearing capacity of PRBS beams based on the tri-linear constitutive model.