Abstract: A vegetable cane fiber ballistic impact panel and process of manufacturing the ballistic panel. The ballistic panel includes a plurality of vegetable cane fibers (e.g., bamboo fibers) impregnated with a polymer. The vegetable cane fibers are formed into mats of interconnected and entangled fibers and the polymer is formed into polymer films. The polymer films and mats are arranged into a layered assembly having an alternating arrangement and pressed together. The layered assembly is heated to soften the polymer and allow it to flow around the vegetable cane fibers to impregnate the vegetable cane fibers and then cooled. The vegetable cane fibers are generally uniformly distributed through the entire thickness of the panel and vegetable cane fibers originally formed within different mats are entangled with each other.

Abstract: The present technology relates generally to a platform and concrete composite slab system used as a building material. A platform, is formed from joined, substantially coplanar boards with connector plates partially embedded between the boards such that a portion of the connector plates extend above the platform's top surface. A reinforcing material (e.g., wire mesh and/or rebar) can be arranged on the prongs or other portion of the connector plates spaced above the platform and concrete is poured over the reinforcing material and allowed to cure, forming a reinforced concrete layer that encases the connector plates and reinforcing material. The connector plates act as standoffs and help to suspend the reinforcing material in the middle of the concrete layer to increase the strength of the reinforced concrete and to fixedly anchor and bind the concrete layer to the platform, so as to establish a composite action between the platform and the concrete.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for conditioning bamboo or other types of vegetable cane are provided. In one aspect, the present technology provides a cane processing assembly for use with a substantially flattened sheet of bamboo culm or vegetable cane having a plurality of longitudinally oriented fiber bundles. The assembly comprises first and second conditioning rollers configured to apply pressure to the sheet that breaks at least some natural bonds connecting laterally adjacent fiber bundles in the sheet. The first and second conditioning rollers are adjustable relative to each other so as to vary the pressure applied to the sheet by the first and second conditioning rollers.

Abstract: The present technology relates generally to a platform and concrete composite slab system used as a building material. A platform, is formed from joined, substantially coplanar boards with connector plates partially embedded between the boards such that a portion of the connector plates extend above the platform's top surface. A reinforcing material (e.g., wire mesh and/or rebar) can be arranged on the prongs or other portion of the connector plates spaced above the platform and concrete is poured over the reinforcing material and allowed to cure, forming a reinforced concrete layer that encases the connector plates and reinforcing material. The connector plates act as standoffs and help to suspend the reinforcing material in the middle of the concrete layer to increase the strength of the reinforced concrete and to fixedly anchor and bind the concrete layer to the platform, so as to establish a composite action between the platform and the concrete.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a cane processing assembly for use with a substantially cylindrical bamboo culm having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of nodes. The assembly comprising a feeder, a perforating station adjacent to the feeder to receive the culm, the perforating station having an annular cutter assembly with cutting blades positioned around an open central area that receives the culm. The cutting blades are radially movable between retracted and extended positions, wherein the cutting blades are positioned to cut into a node around the circumference of the culm. A splitter station receives the culm after the perforating station. The splitter station has a splitting blade configured to cut the culm along its length. A planar station adjacent to the splitter station has a plurality of rollers positioned to engage and flatten the cut culm into a planar configuration.

Abstract: A natural fiber-based, engineered beam assembly comprising opposing top and bottom surfaces, opposing first and second side surfaces and a longitudinal axis. Loads applied to the beam assembly are normal to the top surface. Substantially parallel layers of flattened bamboo or vegetable cane culms are stacked and laminated together. Each layer is formed by at least one culm, and each culm has fiber bundles extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and are impregnated with a binder. The density of the fiber bundles in the culm decreases across the culm's thickness from the exterior surface to the interior surface. At least a plurality of the culms have a common orientation, wherein the exterior surfaces face toward a same one of the top, bottom, first or second side surfaces.