Which structural weakness made Roman timber-framed fortifications vulnerable to siege during winter campaigns?

💡 Explanation

During winter, low temperatures cause timber in Roman fortifications to become brittle due to decreased ductility, making it susceptible to fracture under impact from ballista projectiles, increasing siege effectiveness. Therefore brittle fracture occurs, rather than biological rotting, warpage stress increases, or flammability vulnerability which involve separate environmental factors or mechanisms.

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