A Comparative Analysis of Bamboo as a Construction Material in the Civil Engineering Sector

Running head: Research Proposal 1
A Comparative Analysis of Bamboo as a Construction Material in the Civil Engineering Sector
Name of Student
Name of Institution
Name of Course
Date of Submission

Research Proposal 2
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction............................................................................................3
1.1 Background and Statement of Problem.............................................................3
1.2 Research Aims and objectives........................................................................4
1.3 Research Questions....................................................................................5
2.0 Literature Review.....................................................................................6
3.0 Methodology...........................................................................................11
3.1 Data collection..........................................................................................11
3.2 Data analysis............................................................................................12
3.3 Ethical Consideration..................................................................................13
3.4 Research Schedule.....................................................................................13
4.0 Conclusion.............................................................................................14
References.................................................................................................15

Research Proposal 3
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background and statement of problem
The dynamic nature of the society today has led to variations in lifestyles especially when
it comes to the kind of buildings that individuals would like to use. The changing scope of
consumer needs has equally altered a number of elements in the construction industry. At the
same time, the changing economic contexts have in one way or the other led to increase in the
cost of construction in terms of materials used not to mention labor and other requirements. In
order to counter the emerging issues, civil engineers are consistently researching for cheaper
alternatives in the construction industries. These strategies have been aimed at maximizing the
economic gains within the industry while keeping other factors such as labor and production
costs at a considerably constant level (Minks, 2011). One of the factors which have been
considered by Engineers include the incorporation of cheaper and readily available building
materials. However, one of the most evident challenges is the inability of some of these cheaper
alternatives to withstand the test of time in terms of durability and quality enhancement. The
situation therefore calls for the constructors to seek for a viable equilibrium between the
minimizing the related construction costs while still enhancing quality and durability of the
buildings.
One of the materials which has recently hit the headlines among the cheaper alternatives
is bamboo. The material has been useful especially in the construction of scaffolding, bridges
and building in addition to other structures. Bamboo has very high tensile strength and is often
used as a support material for concrete especially in the regions where it is readily available.
Furthermore, the material is light in weight and hence easy to carry around and use. This
characteristic could be attributed to its hollow and cylindrical shape. Bamboo has a relatively

Research Proposal 4
good strength to weight ratio and has been identified as a worthy rival for steel. The material
with reference to other construction elements comparatively has a number of advantages hence
could be considered as a cheaper alternative. Additionally, the material is environmental friendly
since it is produced through natural means as opposed to other materials which are industrially
manufacture leading to environmental pollution (Ricardo, 2015). In a world where
environmental conservation has become a key issue in every fraternity, using a material which
involves less impacts on the environment would be a welcome idea. However, there have been
issue of durability and quality when it comes to the use of bamboo in construction. In order to
deduce the possibility of using bamboo as an entire replacement for steel structures, this research
relies upon qualitative and quantitative approaches to establish the relevant arguments and
conclusions on the topic of study. The research process shall not only delve on the history of
bamboo use in construction but shall also identify the various merits and demerits associated
with the material by comparing it to other materials. The research shall finally make a conclusive
argument on the possibility of replacing steel with bamboo in the construction industry and the
benefits that would accompany such a transition.
1.2 Research Objectives
The research process shall be guided by the following objectives:
 To identify the history bamboo use in the past in the construction industry
 To establish the changes which might over occurred over time concerning the utilization
of this material in the building and construction industry.
 To outline the various advantages and disadvantages of bamboo through a comparative
analysis with other materials