Resilience of Roman analog marine concrete measured by arc-shaped bending test experiments
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Microfractures in Roman marine concrete structures are partially filled with silicate and carbonate mineral cements. Surface permeability measurements of the ancient concrete, ranging from 10−11 to 10−15 m2, indicate a heterogeneous structure, which may facilitate beneficial seawater interactions with the reactive fabric. To gain insights into the early age resilience of the ancient marine concrete, arc-shaped specimens of a Roman analog marine concrete fabricated with glassy volcanic reactive aggregate are assessed with iterative fracture-mechanical tests, permeability measurements, and microstructural investigations. A baseline arc-shaped bending test followed by two repeat tests during nearly three years hydration in synthetic seawater reveals 115–382% improvement of load carrying capacity relative to the baseline, computed through an index of load recovery, despite initiation and propagation of microfractures. Arc specimens of a blended Portland cement concrete with the same proportion of volcanic reactive aggregate show no effective recovery; damage is localized along a macrofracture with elevated permeability, 10−11 – 10−14 m2, relative to the cementing matrix, 10−15 m2. The Roman analog has lower initial carrying capacity yet a ductile specimen response produced discontinuous arrays of echelon microfractures and stable post-fracture permeability, 10−15 m2. The iterative arc-shaped bending tests provide insights into the mechanical resilience of an early age Roman marine concrete prototype.
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology (arts and humanities)
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,040
Awards: Par-delà les frontières, l'Université de Strasbourg, Façonner les talents en formation et en recherche à l'Université de Strasbourg, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH: NEW CEMENT AWARD.
CONTROL NUMBER: 1953-1600
TITLE: ''ROMAN REACTIVE GLASS CONCRETES IN ENERGETICALLY SELF-SUSTAINING CEMENTITIOUS SYSTEMS''
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, ALONG WITH SAVANNAH RIVER NATIONAL LABORATORY, WILL DEVELOP EXTREMELY DURABLE CONCRETES WITH ENGINEERED FOAM GLASS AGGREGATES THAT MIMIC THE REACTIVE VOLCANIC GLASS OF 2000-YEAR-OLD ROMAN ARCHITECTURAL AND MARINE CONCRETES. THE REACTIVE GLASS CONCRETES WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS OF CONCRETE INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION.
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OpenAlex ID: W7212277159