Bamboo culm is a renewable and lightweight material with high strength, particularly tensile strength. It is well accepted that bamboo culms have played a significant role in architecture because of their sustainable contribution. The culm characteristics and properties of three-year-old bamboo from five species (Dendrocalamus asper, Dendrocalamus sericeus, Dendrocalamus membranaceus, Thyrsostachys oliveri, and Phyllostachys makinoi) were investigated. The results show that each bamboo species has different culm characteristics along with culm length. Culm size, particularly the outer culm diameter and culm wall thickness, affects the ultimate load. These results confirm that a bigger culm with a thicker wall could receive more load. D. asper received the highest ultimate load, while T. oliveri received the lowest ultimate load. However, when calculating the test results for stress (load per cross-section area), P. Makinoi showed excellent mechanical properties, while D. asper showed the worst mechanical properties. This research promotes bamboo’s appropriate use for building applications and as a more sustainable material for architecture.

An experimental study was carried out to develop and examine the properties of a new type of structural insulated panel (SIP). SIP prototypes conducted from this research consisted of insulated foam manufactured from natural rubber filled with wood particles as the core layer and three kinds of commercial wood-composite boards (plywood, cement particleboard, and fiber-cement board) as the surface layers. Polyurethane was used as an adhesive bond between the surface and the core layer. This preformed panel was placed into a clamping device and compressed until adhesive curing was achieved. The physical and mechanical properties of the SIP prototypes were consequently evaluated. The test results indicated that the types of surface layer materials played a significant effect on the SIP properties. The SIP covered with cement particleboard and fiber-cement board revealed high mechanical properties and high water resistance. The SIP prototype covered with plywood showed desirable properties (such as low density, high resistance of screw withdrawal, and low thermal transmittance). However, high water absorption and low fire resistance were drawbacks of the SIP covered with plywood. These properties should be improved.

This study examines the influence of density variations in coconut palm wood (Cocos nucifera L.) on bond strength development using three types of adhesives: urea formaldehyde (UF), melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF), and polyvinyl-acetate (PVAc). A special testing device called Automated Bonding Evaluation System (ABES) was used to investigate the bond strength development between coconut veneers as a function of adhesive type, wood density (moisture content of 10%), pressing time, and bond-temperature development. Coconut wood density was shown to greatly affect the bond line. The bond strength of medium-density material (600–700 kg/m³) was lower than that of high-density material (900–1,000 kg/m³). Interestingly, the medium-density coconut veneers achieved higher bond strength with shorter pressing times, while the high-density coconut veneers reached better results with longer pressing times. Moreover, the bond strength improved by increasing the hot-pressing time resulting in higher bond-line temperatures. A comparison was made between coconut wood and beech wood for similar bonding parameters.