Effect of accelerated aging on selected physical and mechanical properties of Bambusa rigida bamboo

Bambusa rigida bamboos were subjected to accelerated aging test, and the main physical and mechanical properties before and after aging were comparatively investigated. The results revealed that the aged bamboos lost parts of their original physical and strength properties. Furthermore, mechanical strength properties and basic density of both control and aged specimens increased significantly with the height of the culms, while that for the volumetric shrinkage was reverse. The effect of accelerated aging on the properties of base portion specimens was much more significant than that of the middle and top portions.