Weibull analysis of the tensile strength dependence with fiber diameter of giant bamboo

The fibers extracted from the stem of the giant bamboo plant have been investigated as possible composite reinforcement due to their relatively high tensile strength. A dimensional characterization of the distribution and the effect of diameter on the mechanical resistance of bamboo fiber of the species Dendrocalmus giganteus has not yet been performed. The present work characterized the distribution of a bundle of this bamboo fiber. Based on this characterization, diameter intervals were set and the dependence of the tensile strength of these fibers with a corresponding diameter was analyzed by the Weibull method. The results indicated an inverse dependence, in which the highest tensile strength was obtained for the thinnest fibers. Moreover, a mathematical hyperbolic relationship was found to adjust well this inverse correlation. An investigation of the microstructure by means of scanning electron microscopy revealed a potential mechanism for this correlation. Keywords: Giant bamboo, Fiber diameter, Tensile strength, Weibull analysis