MODES OF FAILURE AND STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF Dendrocalamus asper (BULUH BETONG) LOADED IN TENSION

摘要

Modes of failure and strength properties of Dendracalamus asper (Buloh Betong) loaded in tension parallel to grain were documented. The failures modes were divided into brittle splintering tension (Mode Ⅰ) and splitting tension (Mode Ⅱ). Mode Ⅰ occurred at node while Mode Ⅱ occurred at internode. Mode Ⅱ presented higher tensile strength values due to the fibers behavior itself, which is more compact, longer and parallel with axial grain orientation, compared to the short, forked fiber and uneven orientation of vascular bundles in Mode Ⅰ. This indicated the function of fibers as mechanical support and the reduction of fiber length and uneven grain orientation could reduce the tensile strength values.