MORTAR STUDIES TOWARDS THE REPLICATION OF ROMAN CONCRETE

Abstract

The use of strong and durable materials is one essential ingredient leading to the survival of many monumental Roman concrete structures. Replicated concrete mortars with different lime to pozzolan ratios, encompassing the range likely to have been used by the Romans, have been studied here to determine their relative compressive strengths as a function of time. This has been supplemented by the use of the scanning electron microscope to delve into the structure and composition of the binders formed within the strongest and weakest mortars, leading to a deeper understanding of the reasons for the differences in compressive strength.