Ancient Roman Concrete Is About To Revolutionize Modern Architecture 322
schwit1 sends this news from Businesweek:
"After 2,000 years, a long-lost secret behind the creation of one of the world's most durable man-made creations ever — Roman concrete — has finally been discovered by an international team of scientists, and it may have a significant impact on how we build cities of the future. Researchers have analyzed 11 harbors in the Mediterranean basin where, in many cases, 2,000-year-old (and sometimes older) headwaters constructed out of Roman concrete stand perfectly intact despite constant pounding by the sea. The most common blend of modern concrete, known as Portland cement, a formulation in use for nearly 200 years, can't come close to matching that track record. In seawater, it has a service life of less than 50 years. After that, it begins to erode. The secret to Roman concrete lies in its unique mineral formulation and production technique. As the researchers explain in a press release outlining their findings, 'The Romans made concrete by mixing lime and volcanic rock. 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 triggered a hot chemical reaction. The lime was hydrated — incorporating water molecules into its structure — and reacted with the ash to cement the whole mixture together.'"
Ancient Romans (Score:5, Funny)
WWARS (What Would Ayn Rand Say) (Score:5, Funny)
Bloody Romans! (Score:5, Funny)
ok but what have the romans ever done for us? (Score:0, Funny)
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Re:Bloody Romans! (Score:5, Funny)
On the down side, they had to change their concrete marketing slogan from "It keeps the Germans out" to "It keeps the seawater out".
Well there's a news flash. (Score:5, Funny)
The secret to Roman concrete lies in its unique mineral formulation and production technique.
Oh? Really? Its not becuase the Romans made sacrifices to Jupiter? They didn't make their concrete with a recipe given to them by ancients astronauts? The secret lies with thier recipe and technique? Who knew?
Re:Bloody Romans! (Score:4, Funny)
pasta.
The Romans ate bread, not pasta. Noodles were invented in China, and didn't reach Europe until the late middle ages. The first record of pasta being made in Italy was in 1154.
So Pastafarianism is an Oriental religion?
Re:De Architectura (Score:5, Funny)
Didn't Vitruvius describe it in his De Architectura, written about 15 BC?
According to the terms of the Mickius Mousius copyright extension act, that means it'll soon enter the public domain.
Re:Prior art (Score:5, Funny)
The invention of the modern safety elevator revolutionized construction in the major cities of the world. Prior to them becoming affordable almost no buildings in New York City were higher than six stories, and the top floors were always the cheapest. It made no financial sense to build higher, no one wanted to carry groceries up to the 27th floor.
Re:Prior art (Score:5, Funny)
In regards to rebar necessity, it is in order to achieve sufficient tensile strength in lesser thicknesses of concrete pours. It is absolutely possible to build a bridge with no rebar, just make the bridge one big slab that extends from the road to the river bed.
Ummm, I believe that would be called a dam.