Roman Buildings used Stronger Concrete, Say Scientists

Brief 

A team of engineering and environmental researchers determined that the Romans used hot-mixing techniques to create concrete that is more durable that modern equivalents, according to a study in Science Advances. The lime clasts discovered in Roman concrete were previously dismissed as poor quality but function as a way to heal cracks in deteriorating concrete, which can help make current concrete manufacturing more sustainable.

Insight

The majestic structures of ancient Rome have survived for millennia — a testament to the ingenuity of Roman engineers, who perfected the use of concrete.But how did their construction materials help keep colossal buildings like the Pantheon (which has the world’s largest unreinforced dome) and the Colosseum standing for more than 2,000 years?

Roman concrete, in many cases, has proven to be longer-lasting than its modern equivalent, which can deteriorate within decades. Now, scientists behind a new study say they have uncovered the mystery ingredient that allowed the Romans to make their construction material so durable and build elaborate structures in challenging places such as docks, sewers and earthquake zones.

The study team, including researchers from the United States, Italy and Switzerland, analyzed 2,000-year-old concrete samples that were taken from a city wall at the archaeological site of Privernum, in central Italy, and are similar in composition to other concrete found throughout the Roman Empire.

They found that white chunks in the concrete, referred to as lime clasts, gave the concrete the ability to heal cracks that formed over time. The white chunks previously had been overlooked as evidence of sloppy mixing or poor-quality raw material.

“For me, it was really difficult to believe that ancient Roman (engineers) would not do a good job because they really made careful effort when choosing and processing materials,” said study author Admir Masic, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

READ MORE

Related Sources:

• ACI – Self-healing Concrete

• Britanica – History of cement from the article cement

• wIKikipedia – Roman Concrete

Related Questions:

• What was the Roman concrete made of?

• Why was Roman concrete so strong?

• Did ancient Rome invent concrete?

• What was the secret ingredient in Roman concrete?