Roman Concrete

[Astiryu1]

According to Rome:Total War (an event window that pops up) The "Porticus Aemilia" near the Tiber was the First Concrete building.
In the message it states that it consisted of:

Rubble
Mortar
Volcanic Ash
Water

and formed inside of wooden moulds.

I wonder if there is more detail and if anyone knows or has tried the mixture ratios.

[Nathan Ross]

It was the earliest in Rome, apparently. The Porticus Aemila was a huge warehouse building beside the Tiber docks, originally brick but rebuilt in concrete in 174BC. There's a short description of it, with diagram, here (lower half of the page).

There were probably older concrete buildings around the Bay of Naples area, but they're lost to erosion now. The Romans were using underwater (hydraulic) concrete down there around the 3rd-2nd centuries BC.

A couple of interesting sites:

Roman Concrete Research

An Analysis of Hydraulic Cement in Roman Maritime Structures

- Nathan

[Astiryu1]

Excellent! Thank You Very Much. I am into construction methods and hoped someone could relay something like this. I am complete crap at researching stuff on the internet and pointers like this give me valuable sites to go off of.

[diyapolis]

hi
I live turkey for the add, I'm from Turkish sites.
If tolbar google, you can turn to their own language.
Thank you.

http://www.restoraturk.com/koruma-ve-re ... harci.html

Romans, especially in the underground tunnels were used rock salt too.
Rock salt is a feature that hardens over time.
A tunnel is made of rock salt is very difficult to break down or drill.

[Epictetus]

Craig, have you looked at Vitruvius? Here he discusses concrete. If you are interested in Roman building methods I bet you will love most of this work. I find him fascinating.

[Astiryu1]

Awesome! Now I have seen Vitruvius. I am impressed.

[sulla felix]

If you are into methods and techniques then the book Roman Building: Methods and Techniques by Jean Pierre Adam is simply the only book to consider. Expensive, so maybe a library loan. I bought the first edition some years ago and it is a fantastic book.

[Eleatic Guest]

Early concrete vaulting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_domes

[Robert]

Thanks for the tip, Barry. I went and ordered it. Who knows, I may have a Roman villa to build someday .....

[jvrjenivs]

If you are into methods and techniques then the book Roman Building: Methods and Techniques by Jean Pierre Adam is simply the only book to consider. Expensive, so maybe a library loan. I bought the first edition some years ago and it is a fantastic book.

Yes, indeed highly recommended.

[sulla felix]

Thanks for the tip, Barry. I went and ordered it. Who knows, I may have a Roman villa to build someday .....

Then this is the book for you! :lol: Good luck with that villa.