Flexural Behavior of Bamboo-Reinforced Sulfur Concrete Beams Using Martian Soil Simulant

Abstract

Colonizing Mars necessitates pioneering construction methods that harness the planet’s indigenous materials. Sulfur concrete, extracted from Martian soil, emerges as a remarkable solution. Yet, it needs reinforcement. Considering the logistic challenges of ferrying reinforcement materials from Earth, this research investigates the feasibility of bamboo bars for tensile reinforcement in sulfur concrete beams. Whereas bamboo’s ultimate tensile strength and density stand at 38% and 9.5% of A36 mild steel, respectively, it is remarkable that bamboo-reinforced beams (with either one or two bars) exhibited flexural strength ranging from 1.5 to 6 times that of nonreinforced sulfur concrete. Intriguingly, beams fortified with dual bamboo bars not only manifested ductile characteristics but also registered a 69% surge in postcracking stiffness relative to their single-barred counterparts. Importantly, the experimental flexural results resonated with the nominal flexural strength metrics propounded by ACI 318-19, aligning within an 80%–110% bracket.