Determinación de propiedades mecánicas de tirillas de fibra de caña guadúa y su aplicabilidad en mallas para reforzamiento estructural.

Abstract

One of the main reasons that causes human casualties while seismic events occur in Ecuador is collapsing masonry, for this reason the possibility to decrease the number of victims by using eco-friendly, low cost and easy to obtain materials is being studied. This investigation´s objective is to determine the mechanical properties of bamboo fiber strips obtained from Pachinche´s plantations, province of Manabí, by undergoing laboratory tests to establish their functionality in a mesh used as structural reinforcement on typical masonry used in civil work in Ecuador. The laboratory tests were the following: tensile test to determine fiber strength, water absorption, and unit deformation with strain gauges to determine its elastic modulus. The strips were divided into groups according to their shape, with knot and without knot, and subsequently according to their effective area required to determine strength. The study showed that the strips without knot and with less area met the required conditions to achieve maximum strength, meaning they might have optimal properties for good performance when using this type of fibers in masonry as structural reinforcement. It is important to notice that at least half of the strips showed a absorption values below 100% and the other half showed values greater than 200%.