Design of fire safe bamboo structures - Mateo Gutierrez Gonzalez

Abstract: Traditionally, bamboo structural systems have mostly been limited to low-rise structures in tropical countries. In recent years, engineered bamboo has shown the potential of becoming a mainstream construction material, particularly with the possibility of being used as a main structural material in mid- and high-rise construction. However, the fire performance of bamboo structures must be understood before bamboo products and bamboo structural systems can be used with the same confidence that we use any other conventional material. Results of this work are focused on understanding the structural fire performance of bamboo structures and proposing new guidelines for the design of fire safe bamboo structures. Initially, a set of experimental studies will explain the reduction of the mechanical properties at elevated temperatures for round and laminated bamboo. Later stages will assess bamboo structural elements at bigger scales, allowing developing structural models for analysing its fire performance. Outcomes of this work will establish the grounds for understanding the fire performance of bamboo structures, which is key for enabling the full potential of the bamboo industry worldwide.

Bio: Mateo is a PhD research Student at The University of Queensland, Australia working on the structural performance of bamboo during a fire. He did his Bachelor in Civil Engineering and a Master in Structural engineering at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, in Bogota.  Mateo’s main research interests are in structural design and analysis, and mechanical and physical properties of bamboo and timber. He is a current member of the INBAR Bamboo Construction Taskforce, where he helps to develop and review new and existing international standards on the structural use of bamboo. He is also an active member of the SIBGUADUA research network contributing the organization of International Symposiums in Colombia. Prior to joining UQ Fire research group, Mateo taught undergraduate courses and supervised research projects at Universidad de la Salle, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, and Universidad La Gran Colombia (Bogota, Colombia) in the areas of Materials Science, Structural Analysis, and Material Testing.