Recovery modeling for OSB strand production from hollow bamboo culms

Current methods of reducing giant Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) to elements for composite manufacture are often inefficient and waste valuable biomass. This study employed geometric modelling to analyze and optimize the recovery of strands for oriented strand board manufacture. Three geometric models for calculating the numbers of strands, their widths, and their distribution based on culm diameter, wall thickness, target strand thickness, and flitch size were developed to determine an optimum slicing configuration. Real strands were produced by a disk flaker at the model strand thickness of 0.65 mm. Optimum configuration for the maximum number of usable strands per culm was from splitting culms into quarters, tight stacking, and radial slicing through the culm wall, which produced 37% more ‘usable’ strands 10 mm to 30 mm in width, fewer fines, and fewer excessively wide strands. Proportions of real strands fell into three size classes: < 10 mm, 10 mm to 30 mm, and > 30 mm, and closely matched modelled predictions. A slightly bimodal strand width frequency distribution observed from stranding full rounds was reflected in the distribution of the model strands calculated from slicing a full round into 0.65 mm increments.