An active-bending sheltered pathway based on bamboo strips for indoor temporary applications: Design and construction

This study explores the feasibility of employing bamboo strips to create an innovative sheltered pathway designed for indoor temporary applications. The primary design objectives encompass the development of a lightweight structure to conserve materials, ease of installation, and the use of sustainable, environmentally friendly materials. Additionally, the study places a significant emphasis on creating a structural system that can be conveniently disassembled, occupying minimal space for easy transport. The research initiative commences by investigating the mechanical properties of bamboo strips under active bending conditions, employing both bending and cantilever tests to evaluate their performance. Subsequent numerical analyses are conducted using OpenSeesPy, utilizing elastic beam elements with a corotational geometric transformation to simulate the mechanical behavior of bamboo strips. These numerical simulations are then compared with experimental results, contributing to the validation of a mechanical model for the full active bending structure. This validated model is further employed to predict deformation status and stress distribution during the substantial deformations of bamboo strips. The Employing a Particle-Spring Assembly (PSA) model, the preliminary design seamlessly evolves from a 2D bamboo strips configuration to 3D structures, showcasing the final curved form inspired by the remarkable large deformation performance of bamboo strips. Finally, the validated model guides the design of three distinct prototypes of an active-bending sheltered pathway, progressively increasing in scale and complexity. The prototypes address challenges such as lateral stiffness and employ aluminum connections for enhanced performance. The stiffness of the final sheltered pathway prototype is simulated and validated through Finite Element Modeling (FEM) simulations in ABAQUS under diverse loading conditions. The ultimate prototype represents a full-scale module of the sheltered pathway, featuring a walkway, a shelter system constructed from transparent waterproof PVC fabric, and an LED strip-based lighting system. These initial designs and prototypes demonstrate promising performance and hold considerable potential for real-world applications, establishing them as a compelling subject of study.