Experimental study of an unsymmetrical prefabricated hybrid steel-bamboo roof truss: Fid-Bau Portal

Experimental study of an unsymmetrical prefabricated hybrid steel-bamboo roof truss

Li, Zhi / Li, Tao / Wang, Can / He, Xiaozhou / Xiao, Yan

Highlights • A prefabricated 12 m span hybrid steel-laminated bamboo truss designed with BIM software is introduced. • Performance of glubam compression members and connection regions are experimentally studied. • Test results of a full-scale hybrid truss with different support and loading conditions are reported.

Abstract A 12 m hybrid unsymmetrical steel-glued laminated bamboo (glubam) truss used in a roof construction was designed with building information model (BIM) platform software. The hybrid truss composed of glued laminated bamboo (glubam) as top chords and web members, and steel pipes used as bottom chords. Based on such design outcomes, the manufacture, transportation, prefabrication and installation details, with corresponding advantages, are reported. Experiments of glubam chords and connections were performed. The behaviors of glubam chords along with its load-displacement/strain curves, are given in this research. Experimental results on full-scale truss indicate that it can fulfill the mechanical requirements with respect to deflection limitations and loading bearing capacity. The performance of the truss with end-connection change and under unsymmetrical loading conditions was also experimentally studied and discussed in this research. The prefabricated hybrid truss obtained a relatively right balance between structural requirements and economic benefits, thanks to easy manufacture, transportation, prefabrication, and installation.