Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A group of researchers with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is turning to ancient Roman history to invent the building blocks of the future.
Professor Admir Masic and his team went and studied an ancient construction site frozen in time from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E. In their recent published a paper, “An unfinished Pompeian construction site reveals ancient Roman building technology,” the team detailed the exact process of making Roman concrete, and what gave it its longevity.
Masic’s research found that Roman concrete mixed lime and volcanic ash before water is introduced to the process. The added ingredient paired with the chemical reaction allow the concrete to form a self-sustaining property, meaning “when [a] microcrack is formed in ancient roman concrete, this crack will be healed,” he said.
The findings directly contradict what ancient Roman architect Vitruvius published thousands of years ago about how the Romans created their concrete. Vitruvius said builders added lime and water before mixing it with other materials.
Modern concrete is different from Roman concrete, in that it doesn’t have the same self-healing properties. Masic and his lab are trying to isolate that ability and introduce it to modern concrete, which he said could make our infrastructure last much longer.
“That will make our bridges, roads, buildings last maybe 50 percent more,” he said.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.
