RE: Bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong construction 竹棚架，香港建築業
What a great post!
As a matter of fact, the material steel is the strongest material to be used in construction sites as steel has a much higher tensile strength and compressive strength. But bamboos are a great alternative as they are very inexpensive and are very compact fibrous materials. In terms of bending strength, Steel still takes home the grand prize.
The steel will definitely outperform bamboo in strength but in terms of cost efficiency I think bamboo has a very fair fight. Would you risk your life to climb one pole of steel or one pole bamboo pole? That's almost out of the question.
but if one steel is the cost of 100 bamboos, Which one would you allow your life to depend on?
I've always been fascinated with the bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong and thanks for showing the world how efficient and beautiful it can be :)
What you said makes ample sense! When bamboo sticks can perhaps do 60% of the job steel sticks can do in stiffness and durability terms but are a whole lot cheaper. It makes $ sense to go for bamboo. Adding bamboo sticks to excess to make a platform or frame mechanically stronger probably may be still cheaper than using a minimum amount of steel for the same purpose. Just my wild guess :-)