Remaining strength of wooden material of the old living hut built in 1969 at Syowa Station, Antarctica

Abstract

The remaining strength of wooden frames in the panels used in the old living hut built in 1969 at Syowa Station in Antarctica, which is 29 years old, and that in the balloon-launching building, which is 31 years old, were examined. The pulling out strength of the nail screwed into the wooden frames was used to measure the strength of the wooden frames. The relation between the strength of virgin wood of the same kind as wooden frames and its air dried specific gravity was measured by preliminary test. The ratio of the remaining strength against the initial strength of the virgin wood was estimated from the strength of wooden frames using the result of the preliminary test. It is concluded that the strength of the wooden frames deterorated little.