This study presents the results of laboratory investigation on the behaviour of bamboo reinforced concrete slabs with a view to determine their structural adequacy in building construction. Twenty-four concrete slabs of 500 × 100 mm crosssectional area and 1300 mm in length are cast and tested. Twenty-one specimens are cast with bamboo reinforcement varying from 1.0% to 4.0% in step of 0.5% increment while the remaining three, envisaged as control specimens are plain concrete slabs. The mix proportion for this investigation is 1:2:4 (Cement: sand: granite) with 0.60 water/cement ratio. The specimens are later subjected to tests to determine their flexural characteristics, deflection and crack patterns. Results indicate that failure occurred by crushing of the concrete with flexural cracks appearing with increasing load. However, the bamboo remained unaffected. The ultimate failure load increases with increase in percentage reinforcement of the bamboo reinforced slab. It is observed that there is an approximately linear relationship between the ultimate strength and the percentage content of reinforcement. Failure loads averaged about 160% of the obtained theoretical values. Results also indicate a general increased in deflection as the percentage reinforcement and ductility of the concrete slabs increased.’ It was observed that a minimum of 3.5 % bamboo reinforcement is required for sufficient development of ductility within the slabs. These results are an indication that bamboo reinforcement could be an economic substitute for steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete slabs for light flexural applications in affordable housing component development.
