A professor at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) has invented a new system for attaching bamboo to walls, foundations, and other structures.  The commercial name for this new invention is Guaduatec and it is the invention of Alejandro Ugarte, professor of architecture at UCR.  Architects have problems with using bamboo because of its geometric shape and the fact that its dimension change over time due to variances in environmental conditions.  Bamboo normally is attached to other surfaces by using perforations in the canes, but this over time can cause fractures and thus connections with screws and nails will loosen.  The new mechanism adapts to the changing dimensions of the bamboo cane and thus prolongs and expands its usefulness as a construction material.  It consists of two plates that mold to the shape of the cane that are joined by a springed tensor that runs through the stalk, holding the two plates together and the cane firmly in place.  If the bamboo increases or decreases in dimension, the plates will adjust by means of the tensor.  Bamboo is environmentally friendly and can substitute for wood in many structures.  It has the potential to play an important role in reforestation and can also be more easily recycled and reused as a construction material.

Link to Article in La Nación