Proving High Durability of Wood Panels After 46 Years of Operation in the Extreme Environment of the Antarctic Showa Station 'Geosciences Building'

Research Overview Kokushikan University (President: Junko Tahara) and Misawa Homes Institute of Research and Development (Representative Director: Katsuyuki Chihara), a think tank of the Misawa Homes Group, conducted a study titled 'Research on the Durability of Wood Panels in the Geosciences Building at Showa Station,' with Associate Professor Akira Kokubo of Kokushikan University as the lead researcher.

This joint research was adopted and conducted under the 'FY2025 General Joint Research' program by the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR).

Subject of Investigation: The 'Geosciences Building' that Endured 46 Years of Extreme Environment Antarctica's Showa Station is an extreme environment exposed to minimum temperatures of -45°C, strong winds with gusts of around 60m/s, and intense ultraviolet radiation. The 'Geosciences Building' was a wood panel structure operated in this environment from its construction in 1978 until its dismantling in 2024, a period of approximately 46 years. In this research, test specimens were taken from two wall panels and one floor panel brought back to Japan to verify their durability.

Research Methods and Results Tests were conducted for four types of material and adhesive strength based on JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) and JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standards). The results showed no significant decline in mechanical performance or adhesive properties as structural members, with all items exceeding standard benchmarks.

Technical Verification: The 'Stress Skin Effect' Panel strength is generated by the 'stress skin effect,' which bonds core members and surface plywood into a unified structure. The 'wood failure rate,' where the wood itself breaks rather than the adhesive layer peeling, was exceptionally high at 86.4% to 94.5%, confirming that the structure remained healthy even after nearly half a century.

Factors for Durability: The Importance of Layout Planning The 'Geosciences Building' had an 'exposed specification' without reinforcement from surface steel plates. It is inferred that good results were achieved because its location away from the main clustered area prevented snowdrifts, facilitated underfloor ventilation, and minimized the impact of snowmelt water.

Future Outlook This verification confirms the reliability of Misawa Home's wood panel technology. Based on these findings, we will continue to contribute to Japan's polar observation activities by supporting facility construction.