Constructive optimization of bamboo panels for housing: comparative case study

Abstract

This research presents the results of a master's thesis where a comparative analysis of three construction methods that are used in bamboo panels in social housing in Ecuador, Colombia and Peru was carried out. With emphasis on the construction aspect, the effectiveness and performance of the panels was evaluated considering both technical and cost-performance criteria.  A case study was selected and carried out for each country, technical information was collected through interviews and analysis of documents, then, for each case, a full-scale type panel was built and the process was analyzed, delving deeper into the construction characteristics, implementation, performance and amount of material used. The constructive and economic advantages and disadvantages of each method were identified. Finally, a technical-constructive improvement was proposed in a typical panel, which integrates the best practices identified in the three cases, with the objective of reducing costs and construction times. The proposed panel was built and evaluated under the same conditions as those of the case study and this made it possible to verify the construction optimization. Finally, the optimized panel was applied in the construction of homes in the province of Esmeraldas – Ecuador.