Making joints in bamboo is rather difficult because bamboo is hollow, tapered, has nodes
at varying distances and it is not perfectly circular. One has to keep all these constraints
in mind while designing a joint. Although traditions, local practices and publications
give some information on bamboo jointing, this information is far from complete as
essential data are missing in most cases. Many traditional joints suffer from weakness
or deformation. In many of these joints, the strength of the culm itself is lost.
Publications are plenty, but a complete and reliable description of strength and
deformation is more an exception than rule. Gray literature is a good area to search for
information, as many jointing techniques are described in project reports and other
such publications; but one should know how and where to get hold of them.
Timber and steel became proper building materials only after the problem of joints had
been solved. The same goes for the recent development of prefabricated concrete; how
many cumbersome solutions for joints have one seen when prefabrication was still
young? Bamboo has to tread a similar path. If the problem of jointing can be satisfactorily
addressed, the battle is more than half won. Then on, one can reasonably expect to see
bamboo in quite a number of modern buildings, bridges and furniture.
Classification of Joints
To get a grip on the problem, it would be a good approach to design a