During the last three decades, the research on bamboo as engineering material was carried on through the physical and mechanic characterizations in the levels macro, meso, micro and some works in the nano-structural level. In practice, the use of entire bamboo shows cracks on the surface throughout the time, that are provoked by variation of the moisture, the temperature and notches generated during the process of manufacture of structural parts. The crack presence has influences on the resistance of these elements. This aspect of the bamboo behaviour is still subject of study in the initial phase. This work presents the results of a theoretical and experimental research for the determination of the characteristic values of the intensity stress factors, K(C), and the release energy, G(C), for modes I and II, using methodologies applied to the composites materials. It was studied the basal part of the specie Dendrocalamus Giganteus of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro campus (PUC-Rio). The specimens had rectangular shape with transversal section of 10x10mm and 100mm of length with notch; each one was tested in four points bend for different values of notch size. The results correspond to curves load-displacement in the half span; and strain in the external, internal and lateral sides of the specimen. The values of release energy and intensity stress factors have been calculated from the curve loaddisplacement.