STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF OLD TRADITIONAL FOLK HOUSE STRUCTURAL TIMBERS IN HEAVY SNOWFALL AREA

The modulus of rupture and elasticity in bending of the old structural timbers for a traditional folk house located in Japanese snowbelt were measured. We investigated four woody species (beech, oak, horse chestnut and cedar) as samples. Old beech timber specimens in the bending strength were higher than current ones. Additionally, old beech and oak specimens in the bending Young’s modulus were higher than current ones. These findings suggested that the beech specifically would have been enhanced their strength and increased tolerance to snow pressure by having passed through long time.