Laminated Bamboo Sliver Lumber Manufacturing for Wind Blades

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laminated bamboo sliver lumber used in wind electric power generation and aerospace applications lacks sufficient strength and mechanical properties, and is costly due to high material requirements and carbon fiber dependency.

Innovation Solution

A method of manufacturing laminated bamboo sliver lumber with improved mechanical properties by arranging and processing bamboo slivers with specific densities and applying a suitable adhesive, followed by controlled drying and pressing to achieve high tensile, compressive strengths, and elastic modulus, reducing material consumption and cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional laminated bamboo sliver lumber is used, then material consumption is high and cost is high, but strength and mechanical properties are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetensile strength and compressive strengthVSAvoidmaterial consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The bamboo material is segmented into slivers with controlled dimensions (width 0.5-3.5mm, thickness 0.5-2.0mm) and arranged in specific patterns (side-by-side with outer surfaces facing inner surfaces of adjacent slivers). This segmentation allows optimized material usage while achieving superior mechanical properties through the layered structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite structure by laminating multiple bamboo slivers with adhesive. The composite laminated bamboo sliver lumber combines the natural strength of bamboo with the bonding power of adhesive, achieving tensile strength >220MPa and compressive strength >120MPa while reducing overall material consumption compared to conventional approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If carbon fiber is added to composite material for wind blades, then strength and rigidity are increased, but manufacturing cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrength and rigidityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces expensive carbon fiber with bamboo slivers that are more readily available and cost-effective. Bamboo grows rapidly (ready for use after 4 years vs. 10+ years for trees) and can be processed into structural laminated lumber that achieves comparable strength properties without the high material and manufacturing costs of carbon fiber composites.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameter from synthetic carbon fiber to natural bamboo slivers, while optimizing the physical parameters of the bamboo (sliver dimensions, arrangement pattern, adhesive selection) to achieve the required strength and rigidity for wind blade applications at lower cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional laminated bamboo sliver lumber is manufactured, then material is readily available, but mechanical properties and strength are insufficient for high-performance applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial availabilityVSAvoidmechanical property
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The bamboo slivers undergo preliminary processing including cutting to specific dimensions, surface treatment, and adhesive application before lamination. The slivers are prepared with controlled width (0.5-3.5mm) and thickness (0.5-2.0mm) and arranged in predetermined patterns, ensuring that when laminated, the final product achieves superior mechanical properties (tensile strength >220MPa, compressive strength >120MPa) while maintaining ease of manufacture from readily available bamboo material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method results in laminated bamboo sliver lumber with tensile strength greater than 220MPa, compressive strength greater than 120MPa, and elastic modulus greater than 22GPa, making it suitable for wind electric power generation and aerospace applications while being cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Implementation Method 1

applying a suitable adhesive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

controlled drying

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

pressing to achieve high tensile, compressive strengths, and elastic modulus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP2206588B1Method for manufacturing laminated bamboo strips lumber
Publication Date: 2017.11.01 HANGZHOU XINZHU CULTURAL & CREATIVE CO LTD
  • EP2206588B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2206588B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2206588B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method of manufacturing laminated bamboo sliver lumber, comprising steps of: selecting and using the bamboo outer slivers obtained from a bamboo and having an air dry density no less than about 0.95 g/cm3 and removing siliceous and wax layers thereon to obtain bamboo slivers having a width of about 1-4mm. Drying the bamboo slivers to a moisture content of about 6-15%, machining the dried bamboo slivers to a thickness of about 0.5-3.5mm and a width of about 5-22mm, then dehumidifying the bamboo slivers to a moisture content of about 3-10%. Applying a glue to the bamboo slivers in which a ratio of the glue to an absolute dry weight of the bamboo slivers may be about 3-16%. A arranging the glued bamboo slivers with their width direction consistent with the vertical direction, then pressing the arranged bamboo slivers and curing the glue under a side pressure of about 3-15MPa and a top pressure of about 1-6MPa.