The secrets held within Ancient Roman concrete could improve future building practices

Ancient Roman seawalls that have been exposed to the elements for over 2,000 years are finally beginning to reveal the secret of their longevity to researchers trying to figure out what makes them so durable. Lasting for 2,000 years in impressive enough, but even more impressive is the fact that the concrete barriers have actually strengthened over that time period.

According to Time, new research published in American Mineralogist discovered it is a mixture of volcanic ash, lime, seawater, and a mineral called aluminum tobermorite that gives the concrete its durability.

This mixture can reinforce the wall and prevent cracks from expanding. The reaction was caused by seawater continually pounding the structures for centuries, which allowed the mineral mixture of silica oxides and lime to grow between the volcanic rock aggregate and mortar to develop resistance, Time reports. This Roman concrete thrives in open chemical exchange with seawater, which is very rare on Earth.

The information gleaned from this research could prove vital in developing a more environmentally friendly, longer-lasting concrete that could be used in projects today’s concrete would be deemed unsuitable for such as sea barriers or coastal structures.

The history of concrete construction between 1950 and 1970 offers architects and construction professionals a framework for how to rehabilitate these buildings today using both time-tested and emerging technologies. This course, worth 1.0 AIA LU, was authored by Henry Moss, AIA, LEED AP, Principal with Bruner/Cott Architects.

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Architectural concrete as we know it today was invented in the 19th century. It reached new heights in the U.S. after World War II when mid-century modernism was in vogue, following in the footsteps of a European aesthetic that expressed structure and permanent surfaces through this exposed material. Concrete was treated as a monolithic miracle, waterproof and structurally and visually versatile.

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GCP Applied Technologies Partners with Athena Sustainable Materials Institute

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