Researchers Publish Structural Engineering Manual for Bamboo

Comprehensive guidance about the design of permanent bamboo structures has been published by the Institution of Structural Engineers.

The detailed design manual draws on the expertise of four international authors from academia and industry. They are all members of the INBAR Bamboo Construction Task Force, one of the leading international bodies on the structural uses of bamboo:

• Dr David Trujillo CEng, assistant professor in humanitarian engineering, School of Engineering at the University of Warwick;
• Kent Harries Ph.D., FASCE, FACI, FIIFC, PEng, professor of structural engineering and mechanics, University of Pittsburgh;
• Sebastian Kaminski CEng, an IStructE Fellow and a structural engineer from consulting firm Arup;
• and Engr. Luis Felipe Lopez CEng, general manager of the Base Bahay Foundation, which is a guide sponsor with the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization.

Manual for the design of bamboo structures to ISO 22156:2021 aims to help structural engineers and other architecture, engineering and construction professionals understand how this prolific bio-based material can be used safely, with the ISO standard and the manual limited to two-stories because of fire concerns.