Effect of bending on radial distribution density, MFA and MOE of bent bamboo

One of the excellent characteristics of bamboo is the deformation stability. However, the reasons for the good bending stability of bamboo have not been well studied. In this study, we examined the pathways that controls bending deformation in bamboo. A hand-bent phyllostachys iridescens member was chosen to examine continuous density distribution, microfibril angle (MFA) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) along radial direction using SilviScan analysis. Our results show that in bent bamboo, MFA is lower in tension sample and higher in compression sample than neutral sample. There is a strong linear positive correlation between density and MOE, while negative linear correlation between MOE and MFA and no obvious linear correlation between MFA and density. Increased bending was influential in primarily changing the MOE, while also altering the density distribution and MFA. Our results demonstrate variation in density, MOE and MFA distribution along radial direction of tension, neutral and compression samples, which play an important role in maintaining the bending characteristics of bamboo.