Characterization of Ancient Roman Concrete

Home Institution: North Carolina State University NNCI Site: SENIC @ Georgia Tech REU Principal Investigator: Dr.Kimberly Kurtis – Department of Civil Engineering Abstract: Ancient Roman concrete is renowned for its exceptional durability and longevity. This research analyzed concrete samples extracted from Emperor Tiberius’ villa located in Sperlonga, Italy. This structure, resilient against over 2000 years of aggressive exposure due to its proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea, presents a unique opportunity for study. A novel minimally-destructive multi-technique approach was used to analyze the concrete. This analysis involved micro-XRF (micro-X-ray-Fluorescence) to identify and map the elemental composition found within the sample, in-situ XRD (X-ray-Diffraction) to determine the chemical phases that these elements have taken, and nanoindentation to assess the mechanical properties of the concrete. The analysis revealed the utilization of volcanic material and lime, along with strong indications of seawater incorporation in the production process. The ions present in seawater, when reacted with the volcanic material, fostered the development of additional compounds to further enhance the resilience and durability of the concrete. This research holds significant importance in establishing a connection between the durability of Roman concrete and its microstructure. The findings from this study strives to shape the future of concrete by gaining insight into developing environmentally friendly concrete through elucidating the secrets behind Roman concrete's longevity and resilience.