Abstract

With the tension test difficult to perform, because of problem in endgripping the cane, the principal mechanical property which forms the basis for gradation happens to be compression. Canes, the pseudo-brittle material, have been successfully tested under compression by several investigators. The specimens used by them had varied length/diameter ratios. This paper studies the role of length/diameter ratio in the determination of compressive strength. The study includes testing of a total of 105 specimens of small, medium and large diametersthe length/diameter ratios varying from 1 to 7. The results indicate that the cortex (outer cylinder) - central cylinder composite action decides the compressive strength. Both these components buckle in different modes resulting in a complex instability behaviour compared to buckling of homogeneous materials. The investigation indicates the need to have a standard length/diameter ratio for compression specimens