Tensile Strength Analysis of Woven Bamboo as an Alternative Material for Boat Hulls

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the tensile strength of woven bamboo as an alternative material for boat hull construction. Bamboo was selected for its favourable mechanical properties, including its lightweight strength, elasticity, and environmental friendliness. The method used in this study is an experimental approach conducted at the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory of Universitas Abulyatama and the Laboratory of Politeknik Negeri Lhokseumawe. The research stages included selecting bamboo raw materials, cutting, drying, and fabricating woven structures using traditional techniques. Subsequently, tensile testing was performed on a tensile testing machine in accordance with ASTM D3039 to determine the ultimate tensile strength, yield stress, and strain of the tested specimens. The study was conducted from December 10, 2025, to January 14, 2026. The test results indicate that each specimen exhibited variations in tensile strength values. Specimen A3 demonstrated the best performance, with a maximum tensile stress of 94.73 MPa and a strain of 44.40%. In contrast, specimen A1 showed the lowest performance, with a proportional limit stress of 12.75 MPa and a strain of 25.88%. Based on these results, woven bamboo shows considerable potential as an alternative material for boat hull construction, offering cost-effectiveness and environmental advantages over conventional materials such as fibreglass.