Why Roman Concrete Lasts for 1000 Years

After 2000 years, the secret to Roman concrete's durability has been rediscovered.

Last week, a team from MIT finally cracked the recipe to reproduce the self healing concrete that can survive ocean exposure and centuries of weathering without cracking.

0:00 Why Roman Concrete Never Crumbles
1:07 The History of Roman Concrete
4:39 The Search for the Recipe
7:21 Proving It
8:56 The 'What Now?' Chapter

#Roman #concrete #discovery

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[thebookofclyde]

Bridges and other structures start falling apart when brittle modern concrete cracks and water seepage causes the rebar to rust . The Romans didn't even have rebar and apparently they didn't need it. 2000 year old aqueducts still carry water. Somebody needs to find out if hot-mixed slurry made with Mount St. Helens ash and US lime will substitute for the Roman ingredients. Heck - even a product that only lasts for 500 years would be a vast improvement over what the construction industry is using today.

[Therealpicodogg]

Bravo. Construction Science Engineer here. I’ve poured it, I’ve managed the placing of it, and I’ve even tested it. Concrete is one of the most fascinating engineering developments that is often overlooked. You sir did a service for anyone that listened.

[johnebert]

This does raise an issue.

If we can manage to get this kind of mixture into common use, we're going to need to be much more circumspect with construction.

When our work can last millennia, we can't be so flippant with what we leave behind.

[DrBenMiles]

I watched so many Roman construction vids to research this.

[PhysicalMath]

Who knows what other ancient technologies have been lost to time.

[ObservingLibertarian]

Imagine, the solution to the question was to look at a sample under a microscope and - *instead of assuming ancient people were stupid* - simply postulate that maybe, just maybe, the methodology for the mixed materials was intentional rather than by mistake or due to inefficiency.

This is the thought that crosses my mind every time I see something related to "ancient aliens" - the people involved are legitimately just operating under the assumption that people back in the day were too stupid to have accomplished some [thing/act]: because those people themselves naval gazing at the [thing/act] in question aren't themselves smart enough to figure out how that particular [thing/act] was accomplished.

[adrastoso]

I’ve mentioned this to a few people that have common knowledge about these things; this went over their head as they couldn’t comprehend a concrete mix for 2, 000 years ago being superior to modern concrete 🤣

I wonder if it’s possible to make this ourselves for home use with out the need of volcanic ash…..

[Thomas-fnvq]

You're telling me that in a thousand years not one person tried to just put the lime into the mix without hydrating it first? Seriously what are the chances of that?

[charliehoy]

Just watched two of your videos back to back. Neither were topics I intended to delve into but the topics looked very interesting and your content and presentation made it informative and entertaining. Thank you! I liked and subscribed.

[antonius.martinus]

So they pretty much found out how to calcificate concrete to make it harder after each repair, just like how our bones do it with micro fractures. They were damn geniuses.

[DiegoMarquesBrazil]

Cool, hope concrete companies don't sabotage the solution

[andydiggle]

This stuff is super confusing to a layman dummy like me, and you are REALLY good at explaining it in a way I can understand. So... THANK YOU!

[blue_beephang-glider]

We traveled through the UK and France marveling at thousand plus year old building that are still operational. Back in Australia a bulldozer was driving through our 30 year old school...

[marcelotrejosievers]

Self reparing concrete??

Concrete Companies: Not in my watch.

[umutacar]

In this time of global idiocy, I find myself lucky to have stumbled upon your channel, Dr. Miles. I wanted to buy you a coffee. Cheers.

[pashaveres]

Dr Miles - Wow! Studied ancient Rome at the university and was fascinated by their concrete abilities, among others, lol. Am excited to learn this now. Appreciate your clear and thorough explanations. Second vid I've seen. Subbed. Aloha

[kaptainkraken]

Lime coated rebar and remesh would be a test i'd like to see.
I hypothesize that the lime might help seal in the steel for even longer.

[MATLOCKE]

This was the best explanation I’ve heard so far and that includes from the horses mouth Admir Masic. Thanks!
I’ve recently mixed concrete for the first time in my life to patch around my pool and it sucked. Very frustrating .My house is 26 years old and already needs maintenance? I’m just looking to get that Pantheon look to feel like Augustus

[petrbohacek]

There is no money to be made in things that last forever!

[rossmcleod]

I would urge anyone interested in hot mixed quicklime and it’s application in historic and contemporary building practice to look at the work of Nigel Copsey. Extraordinary stuff, has a host of positives from diy to broad construction projects. Many thanks for this vid too.