Comment on We Finally Know How Ancient Roman Concrete Was Able to Last Thousands of Years

BlueEther@no.lastname.nz ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

• NaibofTabr@infosec.pub ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  You do know that rebar frames are completely essential for most concrete construction right? It’s not some conspiracy to induce failure. Concrete by itself can only handle compression forces - the rebar allows it to handle tension, torsion and sheering.

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  • applebusch@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I’m guessing they do, but it does also reduce the life of the concrete. Modern concrete structures would be impossible without rebar, so that makes it a good trade, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a trade.

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  • gaifux@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Rebar is a god damn conspiracy against the youth my dude

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    • NaibofTabr@infosec.pub ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      the youths?

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• Jakdracula@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Yep, it’s the he lime. And: “ The team is now working on commercializing their concrete as a more environmentally friendly alternative to current concretes.”

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  • BlueEther@no.lastname.nz ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Quick lime as a ‘concrete’ is nothing new, or newly rediscovered though… The story seems to come up every few years, and anyone that has used a fluidised lime boiler knows how good quick lime is at forming concrete.

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    • Brcht@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      And, coincidentally, every time the story comes up there’s a company ready to sell you the magic roman concrete.

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    • Deebster@programming.dev ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Yeah, I was thinking it’s like the “Voyager Has Left the Solar System” story - we’ve heard that several times over the years, and probably will again.

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      • GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        To be fair, we keep expanding what we class as the solar system. Poor old voyager keeps getting the goalposts moved!

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    • SoylentBlake@lemm.ee ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      What is that, like 12 people now?

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  • KpntAutismus@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    that’d be great, a lot of buildings are torn down just because the concrete cracks.

    i’d be interested in seeing how using better concrete impacts overall costs and of course emissions. because the building ends up standing for a lot longer, the temperature isolation becomes very sub-par over time. that would increase total energy consumption compared to buildings that are frequently rebuilt.

    but very promising.

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    • Hyperreality@kbin.social ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Meh. Lime mortar absorbs and releases moisture. I wouldn't be surprised that roman concrete is much the same.

      Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan, but that kind of thing isn't compatible with modern insulation. You end up with damp and mould issues in the walls.

      Sure it works great in uninsulated stuff though.

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      • veroxii@aussie.zone ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Also we only see the few structures which survived. 99%+ did not make it 2000 years.

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      • grue@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Sure it works great in uninsulated stuff though. But people and governments want every room in a building to be insulated nowadays. The whole one warm room, the rest of the building is cold and you’d better wear a three piece suit or heavy wool jumper thing, is abhorrent to our spoiled western arses.

        Spoken like somebody who doesn’t live where rooms would be intolerably hot without insulation most of the year.

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• KpntAutismus@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  the iron is a great way to increase tensile strength, but decreases lifespan, rust free metals would also be much nore expensive.

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  • Thorny_Insight@lemm.ee ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Epoxy covered rebar exists as does one made from stainless steel. It’s just quite pricey so it’s rarely used unless absolutely necessary. Rust is generally not an issue as long as the rebar is deep inside the concrete. When it’s close to the surface and gets exposed to elements is when the problems start.

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  • photonic_sorcerer@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Wdym? Just replace the iron rebar with gold

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    • Steve@communick.news ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Gold is no where near strong enough.
      Titanium would work just as well, and last quite a bit longer.

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      • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Isn’t titanium too rigid for this application though? I’ve worked with both for a mechanical application, and titanium has no flex, so stresses get passed in to other components.

        I don’t know, I’m no civil engineer. Any civvies wanna fill us in?

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