Roman concrete

E42841

Roman concrete is an ancient building material developed by the Romans, renowned for its exceptional durability and use in monumental structures that have survived for millennia.


Statements (58)
Predicate Object
instanceOf ancient Roman technology
building material
hydraulic concrete
advantageOverModernConcrete better long-term durability in marine environments
alsoKnownAs opus caementicium
bindingPhase C-A-S-H gel
calcium-aluminum-silicate-hydrate
constructionTechnique cast in wooden formwork
core of concrete with facing masonry
faced with stone or brick
coreIngredient aggregate
lime
seawater
volcanic ash
degradationMechanism slow formation of interlocking crystals
developedBy Ancient Romans
differsFrom modern Portland cement concrete
earliestWidespreadUse 2nd century BCE
enabled complex vaulting systems
large-span domes
massive public buildings
hasProperty ability to cure underwater
chemical stability in marine environments
hydraulic setting in wet conditions
low permeability
influencedBy earlier Hellenistic concrete traditions
keyComponent pozzolana
notableFor exceptional durability
long-term strength gain
resistance to cracking
resistance to seawater
pozzolanaSourceRegion Bay of Naples
Puteoli
relatedTo modern Portland cement concrete
researchSubjectOf archaeology
materials science
standardizedBy Roman engineers
timePeriodOfUse late 3rd century BCE to late Roman Empire
typicallyUsedAggregate brick rubble
stone rubble
tuff
usedFor amphitheaters
aqueducts
baths
breakwaters
domes
foundations
harbor structures
piers
temples
vaults
usedIn Roman architecture
Roman engineering
monumental structures
usedInStructure Colosseum
Pantheon in Rome
Pont du Gard aqueduct
Roman harbors in the Mediterranean

Referenced by (3)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Romans
knownFor
Pantheon
material
Domus Aurea
usedMaterial

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