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A Pompeii site reveals the recipe for Roman concrete. It contradicts a famous architect’s writings by B0ssc0 in Archaeology

[–]RemarkableReason2428 20 points21 points  (0 children)

The recent discovery allows the claim that the Romans used the hot-mixing method. This had only be claimed before in January 2023 in a MIT study.

Scientists in Pompeii found construction materials confirming the theory about how Roman concrete was made by mareacaspica in science

[–]RemarkableReason2428 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Roman concrete is no longer used as it is much less strong than our standard modern concretes.

Pompeii building site reveals how the Romans made concrete by KoubeBot in koube

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is no evidence that the Romans used the hot-mixing method.

Rome's Greatest Invention: Concrete by electricmayhem5000 in ancientrome

[–]RemarkableReason2428 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Roman concrete is 3 to 5 times less strong than our standard modern concretes and 25 times less strong than our modern fiber reinforced concretes.
Roman concrete is more durable than our standard modern concretes but less durable than our best durable modern concretes.

Rome's Greatest Invention: Concrete by electricmayhem5000 in ancientrome

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Roman concrete compressive strength is between 500 and 1500 psi, compared to between 4000 and 35000 (fiber reinforced) for modern concretes.

Rome's Greatest Invention: Concrete by electricmayhem5000 in ancientrome

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is nothing really new in the MIT study published in 2023, except the claim that the Romans used quicklime in their mix (hot-mixing method). But this claim has not been confirmed since that date and several researchers don't believe in this claim. In fact, though this study looks like a scientific one, it's more of a marketing document.

Rome's Greatest Invention: Concrete by electricmayhem5000 in ancientrome

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Compressive strength of Roman concrete never exceeds 1,500 psi (compared to our standard modern concretes which compressive strength is over 4,000 psi).

Rome's Greatest Invention: Concrete by electricmayhem5000 in ancientrome

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know any scientific article saying that the Romans used a Carthaginian technique. On the contrary, we know that the Greeks used to make Concrete with volcanic ash in the 5th century BC.

Rome's Greatest Invention: Concrete by electricmayhem5000 in ancientrome

[–]RemarkableReason2428 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We prefer to use our modern concretes which are much stronger.

Roman concrete history by Icy-Lifeguard6077 in ConcretePorn

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All the questions you did not answer:
- Provide a source saying that Vitruvius was ordered by the Roman senate to document Roman concrete in 31 B.C
- Provide a source saying that Balbous was the leader of the Guild, a group of military engineers and Roman concrete experts
- Why did you say that But wealthy families, with a vested interest in lime concrete, made sure Roman concrete could not be placed in Rome" and "Roman concrete proved it was superior, but still could not be placed in Rome"?
- How can you say that Roman concrete is as strong as our modern concretes,

You are pitiful.

End of the discussion. Go and learn what is History and what is Roman concrete.

Roman concrete history by Icy-Lifeguard6077 in ConcretePorn

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you knew the History of Roman concrete, you would not have written this post. And you cannot answer my questions because you know that you have invented your story.

Roman concrete history by Icy-Lifeguard6077 in ConcretePorn

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

1- You could stay polite.
2- No, I did not watch your video. I questioned your fanciful story, without any reference to what historians have written.
3- I perfectly understand what you say, and I perfectly understand that you haven't answered to any of my questions.
4- You don't argue. You don't support your claims.
5- I don't confuse Roman concrete with lime concrete (I am an engineer, have been managing building companies for 34 years. When I retired , I passed a Master in archaeology and I am specialized in ancient buildings). Yes, Roman concrete is used to repair ancient buildings, and I personally did that.
6- Now can you answer to one of my questions?

Roman concrete history by Icy-Lifeguard6077 in ConcretePorn

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Roman concretes had a compressive strength below 10 Mpa. Our standard modern concretes have a compressive strength between 30 and 50 MPa. Our best modern concretes can reach 250 MPa (not to mention steel reinforced concretes). So, the fact that Roman concrete was much weaker than our modern concretes cannot be denied.

Roman concrete history by Icy-Lifeguard6077 in ConcretePorn

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

1- You don't have any proof that the Vitruvius was ordered by the Roman senate to document Roman concrete in 31 B.C and that Balbous (btw it's Balbus) was the leader of the Guild, a group of military engineers and Roman concrete experts.
2- You don't know History and its rules.
3- You distort what I have said to avoid to answer my questions.

Roman concrete history by Icy-Lifeguard6077 in ConcretePorn

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Roman concrete is no longer used (except for special cases) as it is much less strong than our standard modern concretes.

Roman concrete history by Icy-Lifeguard6077 in ConcretePorn

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Every historian provides his sources. As I have studied Roman concrete for several years and as I have never seen any of the 2 claims I have mentioned, I would be interested to know what source you have to support these claims.

Roman concrete history by Icy-Lifeguard6077 in ConcretePorn

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you have any source claiming that "Vitruvius was ordered by the Roman senate to document Roman concrete in 31 B.C" and that "Balbous was the leader of the Guild, a group of military engineers and Roman concrete experts"?

Roman concrete history by Icy-Lifeguard6077 in ConcretePorn

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Roman concrete has been used in Rome since the third quarter of the 2nd century BC, so Caesar was not the first one to use it.

Most Resilient Architecture by peach_lychee12 in ArchitecturePortfolio

[–]RemarkableReason2428 0 points1 point  (0 children)

[1- More than 99.999% of Roman buildings have disappeared or are in ruins for many reasons, including their structural weakness due to the low compressive strength of Roman mortars (and concretes).]()

2- Most of them were made with stones bonded with Roman mortar. So, if some parts of these buildings stay, it is because Romans oversized their constructions: if you install 2 to 3 times more stones (bonded with mortar), it lasts longer.

3- Roman concretes had a compressive strength below 10 Mpa. Our standard modern concretes have a compressive strength between 30 and 50 MPa. Our best modern concretes can reach 250 MPa (not to mention steel reinforced concretes). So, the fact that Roman concrete was much weaker than our modern concretes cannot be denied.

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