Remaining strength of frame material in wooden wall panels of buildings at Syowa Station, Antarctica

Abstract

The remaining strength of frame material in wooden wall panels of buildings being used now at Syowa Station in Antarctica was measured by wood screw pulling out tests. An initial value of pulling strength of wood screws was assumed referring to the test report by Hirai et al. (Nankyoku Shiryo, 46, 481, 2002). In that report, the relation between the strength of new wood and air-dried density of the material was presented. The air-dried density is almost the same as what in the frame material measured at Syowa Station. The strength has decreased gradually with the years after the construction of buildings. The remaining strength was roughly independent of facing direction of outside wall panels of buildings. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the frame material were assumed from the result of the wood screw pulling out test. Since the deterioration speed of structural properties has been very gradual, the wooden wall panels of buildings used now at Syowa Station are confirmed to maintain the structural performance required by the structural design.