Posted on 10/19/2024 7:18:00 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Roman concrete redefined the limits of architecture. But could it be used to build a modern skyscraper?
Chapters:
Why isn't Roman Concrete used today? | 8:23
0:00 The origins of concrete
1:25 Building with Roman concrete
2:49 Why the Romans didn't build skyscrapers
3:33 A hypothetical modern project
4:20 The "Insula" method
5:23 The "Colosseum" method
7:17 Possible, not comfortable
toldinstone | 520K subscribers | 170,044 views | October 4, 2024
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
In practice, engineering is therefore commonly about using the least and cheapest materials in an economic manner, not using the best possible materials for the sake of permanence. If it was, many of us would be living in small, old houses made of solid stone and steel based on the needs and designs of decades ago, driving on obsolete and hopelessly crowded roads, and working and shopping in old buildings.
We would also be complaining that we did not have more of the new designs that engineers dreamed up but could not build except to a limited degree. As it is, the frequent demolition and dramatic new building seen in Las Vegas and Florida's theme parks is what modern engineering tends toward when it has the money. And, approve it or not, people like Las Vegas and Florida's theme parks.
Fo future reference.
Worse, when you watch it until it dries.
Rebuilding roads and bridges every 4-6 years is good for their business.
LOL. The bottom picture looks like the Dan Ryan expressway(I57) when it fell apart 20+ years ago during a brutal Chicago winter.
Your point could be much added to but there is much that could be said counter to it, something like the 9mm versus 45 arguments.
I had thought that we really don’t know how to recreate Roman concrete, even today. And that it may require ingredients we don’t have in quantity
Roman concrete was used in San Mateo, California, in 1888 to build the Crystal Springs Dam. The dam survived both the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, despite its location about 300 yards (270 m) east of the San Andreas Fault. It was subject to severe shaking in both earthquakes.
It gets VERY interesting at 18:11.
I saw it in a theater when it was first released… no, that was ET. My bad.
That was really eeeenteresting. I was thinking the ‘secret’ of Roman concrete had been lost.
There is a way to make asphalt last longer, (I think it was a kind of infusion of rubber, not sure), but we don’t use it. I know it’s more expensive, but it would last, which probably explains why it’s not used.
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Used in WI, but goes away fast after a winter season with the snowplows scraping it off - lasts maybe 2-3 winters. Gives a real nice ride, however, when its new.
You got it!
Rereading my post, I wince at how easily it could be rephrased to make a similar point about human longevity. With more years behind me than in front, for people at least, I find myself firmly on the side of building to last and preserving what is old.
It seems that by the time they finish redoing a stretch of the expressways around here, it’s time to start over again where they began.
I was thinking of how much of the past buildings, cars, tools, clothing etc, that we would like to return due to their longevity and quality.
Laying concrete roadways takes a lot of time, but it lasts along time unless there are construction errors. I’ve been on road trips where a 10 mile 2 lane road can be resurfaced with asphalt in a couple of weeks or so. One week to remove the old asphalt, reprocess it and lay the new new road.
Can you pour Roman concrete in cold temps?
The other GGG topics added since the previous digest ping, alpha:
This is now the Digest topic, mainly because I just realized I'd not pinged it. [blush] The list of Digest topics also accidentally includes this one, and is in an earlier reply.
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