Why isn't Roman Concrete used today? [8:23]

YouTube ^ | October 4, 2024 | Garrett Ryan, Ph.D as toldinstone

[SunkenCiv]

Roman concrete redefined the limits of architecture. But could it be used to build a modern skyscraper?

Chapters:
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

Why isn't Roman Concrete used today? | 8:23
toldinstone | 520K subscribers | 170,044 views | October 4, 2024

[SunkenCiv]

• Self-Healing Concrete: What Ancient Roman Concrete Can Teach Us [04/09/2023]
• MIT, Harvard, Italian, and Swiss scientists re-discover why Roman concrete structures last millennia while modern concrete doesn't [01/10/2023]
• How the Pantheon has stayed intact for almost 2,000 years: Study reveals how small chunks of lime gave Roman concrete 'self-healing' capabilities [01/06/2023]
• Why was Roman Concrete Forgotten during the Middle Ages? [11/14/2021]
• Sinkhole opens near the Pantheon, revealing 2,000-year-old Roman paving stones [05/13/2020]
• Science reveals improvements in Roman building techniques [10/30/2019]
• Paleomagnetism Study Supports Pyramid Man-Made Stone [02/19/2018]
• Secrets of the Roman Empire's ancient and 'luxurious' harbour of Corinth [12/15/2017]
• Finding a new formula for concrete [05/28/2016]
• Greek and Danish archaeologists excavate the ancient Greek harbour town Lechaion [12/28/2015]
• Back to future with Roman architectural concrete [12/19/2014]
• Ancient Greek Port Revealed Near Corinth, Peloponnese [11/06/2014]
• To improve today's concrete, do as the Romans did [06/05/2013]
• The Riddle of Ancient Roman Concrete [09/02/2011]
• Volcanic ash may have preserved Roman ruins (Good cement) [05/14/2009]
• Is the Roman Pantheon a colossal sundial? [02/05/2009]
• Researcher investigates ancient geology to understand human development, climate change [10/11/2008]
• Egypt's Pyramids Packed With Seashells (Not Concrete) [05/01/2008]
• Scientists Say Pyramids Could Be Concrete [04/23/2008]
• Ancient Rome's Earliest Temple Reconstructed [03/15/2008]
• 'Caesar's superglue' find [12/04/2007]
• Stones of the Pyramids were Poured, Not Chisled [05/21/2007]
• Cracking Concrete's Code [02/15/2007]
• Riddle Of The Great Pyramids Of Giza: Professor Finds Some Building Blocks Were Concrete [12/09/2006]
• Research team recreates ancient underwater concrete technology [04/09/2005]

[P.O.E.]

Modern concrete makers couldn’t fill the shoes of the old Italians.

Best I could do on short notice.

[SunkenCiv]

I’m guessing that NY crime families just borrowed the idea of the guinea gangplank.

[Sacajaweau]

If it wasn’t for the Italians, there would be no front stoops!!

[systemjim]

I have wondered the same thing for years. The concrete used today seems to be SO deficient and has to be replaced every few years. Maybe that is the reason why? Planned obsolescence.

[Tom Tetroxide]

Scientists recently found out that Roman concrete is self-healing.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ancient-roman-concrete-has-self-healing-capabilities/

If we can emulate this property our concrete will not break down and have to be replaced so often.

[KobraKai]

The Romans added a particular volcanic ash into the mix, an ash that only they were privy to.

[Bob434]

Another Interesting concept, why isn’t “iron that doesn’t rust” used today? There is an ir9n tower that is over 1000 years old that hasn’t rusted in India, and supposedly,somehow creates a protective layer when moisture hits it

For more on this, here is a video on it

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE4oQrn4nJg

[Red6]

How do you know when you’re a total nerd?

You watch video’s on Roman concrete, on a Saturday morning, because you find that interesting.

THX

[brownsfan]

“If we can emulate this property our concrete will not break down and have to be replaced so often.”

And that’s why it’s not used in my opinion. The same goes for asphalt. 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.

[Yo-Yo]

If we can emulate this property our concrete will not break down and have to be replaced so often.

Where's the profit in that?

[packagingguy]

Saturday morning is for watching Scooby Doo and Looney Tunes.

[Larry Lucido]

There is supposedly a ten hour video of paint drying on YouTube. I recommend fast-forwarding to the end.

[cymbeline]

“Why isn’t Roman Concrete used today? “

It is. Ref. Wikipedia article on Roman concrete,

[Rockingham]

The volcanic ash that the Romans used was mostly taken from the beach and hills near Rome and Pompeii.

[howlinhound]

“Where’s the profit in that?”

Where’s the union jobs - and votes - in that!?! /s

[SaxxonWoods]

Planned obsolescence?

[Tom Tetroxide]

They just found this out recently. The news came out back in 2023.

[Montana_Sam]

Thanks for the compendium of FR articles on early-history building research! Good stuff.

[dznutz]