Enhanced mechanical performance and failure mechanism of bamboo-reinforced ice beams: A combined experimental and numerical investigation

Cold-weather construction materials like ice and snow are readily available, ecologically sustainable, and distinctive. Because ice is fragile and changes shape with temperature, tall, wide, or weirdly shaped ice buildings are difficult to build. The goal of this study was to determine how bamboo can be applied to strengthen different ice beams. We examined the bending properties of pure, composite, bamboo-reinforced pure, and composite ice beams. To determine how much weight various ice beams can support and how they break, we employed finite element analysis and four-point bending tests. We also looked at how the mechanical performance of the ice beam was affected by temperature, diameter, ratio, and the location of the bamboo reinforcement. All experiments were conducted within −20 °C to −5 °C, representing typical cold-region service conditions. We developed a theoretical model to calculate the weight capacity of bamboo-reinforced ice and composite ice beams, employing the plane section assumption, experimental data, and analytical methods. Bamboo enhances the strength and weight-bearing capacity of ice beams, altering their failure mode from brittle to ductile. At −15 °C, bamboo-reinforced composite ice beams exhibited a maximum load-bearing capacity enhancement of 239 %. This remarkable improvement stems from a strong synergistic interaction between the microscopic fibers and macroscopic bamboo reinforcement, which significantly enhances the stress transfer efficiency at the bamboo-ice interface. This research offers a secure and efficient method for strengthening ice structures, with both theoretical and practical ramifications for environmentally sustainable construction in cold climates.