Nonconventional Materials (NOCMAT) for Ecological and Sustainable Development
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Nonconventional Materials (NOCMAT) for Ecological and Sustainable Development Khosrow Ghavami1,2 and Arash Azadeh3 1
Chairman of International committen on NOCMAT and abmtenc Professor, Pontificia Univesidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro, (PUC-Rio) 3 PhD student, PUC-Rio Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Brazil - 22451-900 2
ABSTRACT Four decades of advanced research about Non-Conventional Materials and Technologies (NOCMAT) such as bamboo and composites reinforced with natural fibers have shown that it is now possible to produce and use high performance NOCMAT. Bamboo and composites reinforced with vegetable fibers are capable, meeting most engineering demand in terms of strength, stiffness, toughness and energy absorption capability. The greatest challenge of the 21st century is the need for cost-effective, durable and eco-friendly construction materials that will meet the global needs of infrastructure regeneration and rehabilitation which alone can enhance the quality of life for all the people of the world. This paper summarizes some results of judicious combination of different matrix reinforced with vegetable fibers, especially bamboo. These sustainable ecological materials are strong, ductile and capable of absorbing large amounts of energy. They could find extensive applications in the engineering particularly in developing countries. Specifically, the development of durable composites reinforced with vegetable fibers and bamboo poses an important challenge to the science and skills of engineering. This challenge could create the most useful, eco-friendly construction materials backed by an endless supply of renewable natural resources. In addition the paper presents results of some ongoing research concerning bamboo and how vegetable fibers such as hemp plant, before the invention of Nylon was the most used materials in all aspects of human life around the globe and why it was banned. INTRODUCTION Significant research has been carried out since the seventies of the twentieth century on the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of nonconventional materials and Technologies (NOCMAT) such as bamboo and vegetable fibers as reinforcements for different matrices as engineering materials. The investigations were carried out at macro, meso, micro and nano levels [1]. A functionally graded distribution of fibers in bamboo has been identified [2]. A variation of fibers was observed in radial and longitudinal directions. Bamboo in its natural habitat acts as a cantilever beam with a fixed support in the soil and is subjected to its own weight and wind load [3]. Therefore, it has a naturally optimized structure to resist bending moments. The strengths are highest and lowest along the outside and inside surfaces [4] of bamboo culm respectively. In general, the strengths are also highest in those sections closer to the ground [5]. Studies of the fracture and toughening mechanisms in bamboo structures were carried out which will not be presented in this paper [6]. An advanced research on NOCMAT has shown that it is now possibl
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