This report presents a study on the effect of snowfall on the form of SANGENDO temple, which is a kind of Buddhist Temple with a square plan having three bays on each side. The following factors are examined in the relation of snowfall:
1. roof materials
2. roof inclination
3. the ratio of the length of eaves to the building width
4. the extension ratio of veranda
5. the ratio of column size to the building width
6. the opening ratio of the building
Among these factors, it was found out that the selection of roof materials and the size of opening of building are related to the amout of snowfall. Specifically, in heavy snow regions, the roofing tiles (KAWARA, in Japanese) and Japanese cypress bark (HIWADA) have been rarely used for the roofing materials, and the window of building is small comparing that in the other regions. As for the other factors, no such strong relation with snowfall was found.

View full abstract

This paper describes the problems related to snow for houses from the point of view of the building environmental engineering. So far, the researchers of building environmental engineering have been investigating the problems of low room temperature and vapor condensation for the residential buildings in Tohoku district. However, the problems related to snow should also be dealt with by the researchers in this field. In the areas of heavy snowfall, the snow accumulation on the roof and around the buildings causes many problems for indoor and outdoor environment. In many cases, these problems are linked with the treatment of the accumulated snow on the roof. There are many ways developed for disposition of accumulated snow on the roofs.
This paper, mainly dealing with the snow problems in Tohoku District, clarifies the impact of snowfall and its accumulation on the living environment. Secondly, various ways adopted for avoiding the snow related to problems are evaluated. Lastly, houses featured by the treatment of accumulated snow on the roof are assessed from the aspects of merits and demerits, and the conditions for their application are discussed.

View full abstract

This paper describes the test results of penetration test, softening point test and Moriyoshi Breaking Point test for new asphalts and asphalts recovered from various fields. Flow and cracking of flexible pavements depend upon the brittle point of asphalts, but research of those points have not been conducted.
It is concluded that scattering of brittle point of asphalts for new and recovered asphalts was remarkably large and it seems that those points controlled various crackings of flexible pavements.

View full abstract