ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the research on building initiated at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa School of Architecture. The objective was to undertake initial studies of bamboo properties, structural connections, gridshell layout and assembly, and gridshell erection. Bamboo mechanical properties are discussed in relation to laboratory tests concerning tensile, compression, and bending strength. The chapter investigates the construction of prototype connections between adjacent and overlapping gridshell bamboo structural members. It presents the types of connections between structural members, namely iron wire lashing connection, zip tie connection, tape connection, and conventional lashing. The bamboo exhibits material and formal properties similar to wood and behaves similarly in resisting shear force. Bamboo has periodic nodes and diaphragms of solid material spaced along its length. This attribute reduces the tendency for split originating at one internode point to propagate past a node. Bamboo's resistance to buckling is accomplished with formation of periodic nodes that are spaced at intervals along length of the cane.
