Concrete is old and is a technology was known by the ancient Romans and was widely used within the Roman Empire. The Colosseum also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre in the centre of the city Rome, is the largest amphitheatre in the world and is considered as one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering, is built of concrete and stone.
There is no doubt that the ancient Romans were Master Builders. Despite the wear and tear in the form of military invasions, tourist mobs and natural disasters like earthquakes, many temples, roads, aqueducts constructed during Roman time have held up remarkably well.
The Roman harbors stand as a mark of fascination in the eyes of the geologists, engineers as they stand almost intact after 2000 years or more, despite constant pounding by sea water. A sample of concrete taken from a breakwater in Italy’s Pozzuoli Bay, at the Northern tip of Bay of Naples, which dates back to 37 B.C, has been analyzed by a team of researchers from Italy and United States and their reports are likely to revolutionize the ways of modern architecture. By analyzing the material components the researchers were able to discover the secret to Roman cement’s durability.
They found out that the Romans made concrete by mixing lime and volcanic rock to form mortar. For underwater structures, lime and volcanic ash were mixed to form mortar, and this mortar and volcanic tuff were packed into wooden forms. The seawater instantly triggers a hot chemical reaction. The lime gets hydrated (incorporating water molecules into its structure) and reacts with the ash to cement the whole mixture together.
The Roman concrete is more durable and sustainable to produce and the process of making their concrete requires much less fuel. The research analysis of Roman Concrete sheds light on existing modern concrete blends. Adopting materials and production techniques installed by the Romans could produce longer-lasting concrete that generates less carbon dioxide.
There is no doubt that the ancient Romans were Master Builders. Despite the wear and tear in the form of military invasions, tourist mobs and natural disasters like earthquakes, many temples, roads, aqueducts constructed during Roman time have held up remarkably well.
The Roman harbors stand as a mark of fascination in the eyes of the geologists, engineers as they stand almost intact after 2000 years or more, despite constant pounding by sea water. A sample of concrete taken from a breakwater in Italy’s Pozzuoli Bay, at the Northern tip of Bay of Naples, which dates back to 37 B.C, has been analyzed by a team of researchers from Italy and United States and their reports are likely to revolutionize the ways of modern architecture. By analyzing the material components the researchers were able to discover the secret to Roman cement’s durability.They found out that the Romans made concrete by mixing lime and volcanic rock to form mortar. For underwater structures, lime and volcanic ash were mixed to form mortar, and this mortar and volcanic tuff were packed into wooden forms. The seawater instantly triggers a hot chemical reaction. The lime gets hydrated (incorporating water molecules into its structure) and reacts with the ash to cement the whole mixture together.
The Roman concrete is more durable and sustainable to produce and the process of making their concrete requires much less fuel. The research analysis of Roman Concrete sheds light on existing modern concrete blends. Adopting materials and production techniques installed by the Romans could produce longer-lasting concrete that generates less carbon dioxide.
