Published Online:January 2026
Product Name:The IUP Journal of Structural Engineering
Product Type:Article
Product Code:IJSE020126
DOI:10.71329/IUPJSE/2026.19.1.17-24
Author Name:Snehal Ozarkar, Haritha Raghavendran and Preeti Namjoshi
Availability:YES
Subject/Domain:Engineering
Download Format:PDF
Pages:17-24
Following the increasing demand for sustainable, affordable and low-carbon construction, researchers have explored the feasibility of bamboo as a natural alternative for steel reinforcement in ferrocement (ferrocrete) structures. Through a literature review, this paper compiles the findings from experiments and recent case studies to evaluate bamboo’s mechanical properties, environmental impact and structural applications. The paper compares the differences in panel thickness, span capacity, and development length between bamboo and steel reinforcement. Life-cycle assessments and housing case studies, such as the cement bamboo frame (CBF) system in the Philippines, prove bamboo as an “ecofriendly reinforcement alternative” to steel by demonstrating significant reductions in embodied carbon. The study concludes that with appropriate treatment and design, bamboo can be a viable and ecofriendly alternative to steel in selected ferrocement applications, particularly for low-cost and low-rise construction.
Ferrocrete (ferrocement) is a thin-walled composite construction material comprising a rich cement mortar reinforced with multiple layers of closely spaced wire mesh (Al- Kubaisy, 1988).