Composite boat hulls with bamboo natural fibres

Bamboo laminates are made from bamboo strips milled out from bamboo wall core. In the present study, the overall mechanical characteristics of bamboo fibres reinforced composites and sandwich for general marine applications were analysed. An accurate analysis of processing possibilities and chemical-physical characterisation has been conducted, evaluating the relationship between composites performances, processing characteristics and environmental ageing. As applications, an hull panel and a spinnaker pole have been realised and respectively tested for impact and for axial compression load: successively a complete 6 meters boat hull has been realised in order to analyse critical lamination points and the effectiveness of vacuum bagging.