Bambu engenheirado estrutural, caracterização da indústria global e uma revisão sobre o cross-laminated bamboo (CLB)

Abstract

Engineered bamboo emerges as a sustainable and viable solution in civil construction, overcoming limitations of natural variability and lack of standardization by offering composites with consistent physical and mechanical performance. This study aimed to characterize the global industry of structural engineered bamboo products (EBPs) to promote their use in industrialized construction solutions. The specific objectives included identifying and classifying EBP manufacturers based on marketed products, geographical location, bamboo species used, types of adhesives and preservatives, applications, certifications, and production levels. For cross-laminated bamboo (CLB) and cross-laminated bamboo and timber (CLBT) systems, the study reviewed the state of the art, addressing manufacturing processes, applicable standards, experimental, analytical, and numerical methodologies, mechanical properties, bamboo species employed, applications, and challenges related to large-scale production and structural use. The methodology consisted of a systematic literature review on databases such as Scopus and Web of Science, as well as a sectoral survey to characterize companies in the field. The systematic review of the industry revealed that, despite the growing academic and industrial interest, the lack of comprehensive studies on production and consumption hinders strategies for large-scale expansion. The integration between research and market, coupled with the development of standards and public policies, is essential to establish engineered bamboo as a sustainable alternative in civil construction. The characterization of the engineered bamboo structural industry revealed its concentration in China, technological advances, and product diversity, such as bamboo scrimber and laminated bamboo lumber, along with broad applicability in structural components. However, the lack of process standardization, transparency in technical information, and detailed data on projects and the global market limits its large-scale acceptance. The sector holds potential for hybrid systems, modular structures, and large-scale buildings but requires greater standardization, technical dissemination, and research investments to consolidate engineered bamboo as a sustainable and competitive alternative in civil construction. The review on CLB highlighted significant advancements in the field, emphasizing predominant experimental methodologies that validate its structural and mechanical properties, such as bending, compression, and shear. Numerical and analytical methods complement the studies, enhancing the understanding of CLB behavior under complex conditions. The material demonstrates superior performance compared to CLT in several properties, standing out as a sustainable and efficient alternative for walls, floors, and beams in resilient and energy-efficient constructions. However, challenges related to standardization, durability, and validation under extreme conditions still need to be addressed to consolidate its large-scale application. The review on CLBT evidenced growing academic interest in the topic, with a predominance of experimental studies focusing on mechanical and structural properties, such as compression, bending, and shear. Analytical and numerical approaches complement the modeling and simulation of the material, while manufacturing processes highlight the use of bamboo scrimber, wood species such as Spruce-Pine-Fir, and adhesives like polyurethane (PUR) and phenol-resorcinol formaldehyde (PRF). CLBT demonstrated superior performance compared to CLT in compression and shear strength, being applied in floors, walls, and beams, though it still faces challenges of standardization, validation under extreme conditions, and process optimization. In summary, this study contributed to the expansion of technical and strategic knowledge about the global industry of structural engineered bamboo products, providing support for process standardization, the development of standards, and integration between research and market. By comprehensively reviewing and characterizing the productive, technological, and application aspects of CLB and CLBT, the research offers a solid foundation to drive the adoption of these materials as sustainable and high-performance alternatives in civil construction.