Concrete facts - [CrossTalk]
Unknown authors
Abstract
THE ANCIENT Romans were the first to mix sand and gravel with water and a bonding agent to make concrete. Although they called it opus cementitium, the bonding agent differed from that used in modern cement: It was a mixture of gypsum, quicklime, and pozzolana, a volcanic sand from Puteoli, near Mount Vesuvius, that made an outstanding material fit for massive vaults. Rome's Pantheon, completed in 126 C.E., still spans a greater distance than any other structure made of non-reinforced concrete.
Topics & Concepts
CrosstalkComputer scienceEngineeringElectronic engineeringBuilding materials and conservationGrouting, Rheology, and Soil MechanicsCivil and Structural Engineering Research