How to Make Roman Concrete (4 Different Materials, 4 Different Strengths)
481,363
Published 2021-02-19
We're exploring the ancient origins of concrete and testing out its strength compared to a variety of other building materials. Is Roman concrete the strongest natural building material out there? Let's find out...
Help us make more videos ► patreon.com/htme
Instagram ► instagram.com/htmeverything
Discord ► discord.gg/htme
Merch ► shop.spreadshirt.com/HTME
H2ME (Second Channel) ► bit.ly/2GTcrcG
▾ Our Camera Gear: ▾
► GH5s: amzn.to/3BzY9Id
► GH5: amzn.to/3Eu0juJ
► Lens: amzn.to/2XXkVvM
► GoPro Hero 5: amzn.to/3EFkxSr
► Dracast Light Panels: amzn.to/3vUY2W4
▼ Send Us Some Mail ▼
How to Make Everything
PO Box 14104
St. Paul, MN 55114-1802
▼ Special Thanks to our Patrons at $15+ per month ▼
TyelorD, Daemon Rene, Amelia Grant, Kevin Shuttic, Erik Språng, Daniel Sixta, Lee Schnee, Iain Bailey, Sean Brooks, alex latzko, Stephen DeCubellis, Fruitymasterz, John Gregg, alkalinekats, Lana Sinapayen, Daffyd Wagstaff, Chad Nodo, David Beckett, Adrian Noland, Estoky Designs, Eric Moore, Phil, Benjamin Maitland, Sandy & Jayremy Lester, Larry Ullman, Skylar MacDonald, Maimus32, Stephen C Strausbaugh, Dylan Rich, Jason Kaczmarsky, Antonio Rios-Ochoa, Liz Roth, Jason Lewis, Andrew Nichols, Susan M. George, and Daniel Laux
▼ Credits ▼
Created and Hosted by Andy George
Co-Hosted and Assistance by Lauren Lexvold
Camera and Cinematography by Daniel Garritsen
Primary Editing by Joseph Knox-Carr
Music by Taylor Lewin: taylorlewin.com/htme
All Comments (21)
-
Get 20% off your first monthly box when you sign up at bspk.me/how2 and use promo code EVERYTHING20 at checkout!
-
The professionally made red brick was at a bit of a disadvantage since you had it resting on a small stone in the back, creating a pivot point and a good place to snap. If it were laying flat I imagine it would have stood a better chance at breaking until higher pressures were applied.
-
Lesson #1: Don’t use round rocks in concrete. Roman cement is not used for its strength but its resilience to weathering as it cures over 30-50 years. A crush test is testing the wrong property.
-
As someone who tested concrete for a living, I really wish you would revisit this using a modern testing lab and the advice of a professional engineer as to how to make your samples, and how long to cure your concrete. Modern concrete is designed for a 28 day ultimate strength but it will continue to gain strength (asymptoticly) for 56 years or more. I would be pleased to collaborate with you concerning modern and ancient building materials.
-
I remember reading that the seawater is supposed to be used when making, not as a later soak. Can you try that recipe too? I'd love to see what happens!
-
This series is like Journey Mode in terraria, where you have to get X amount before unlocking an infinite supply
-
The version I read fairly recently (not sure where, though) was that the water they used for Roman concrete was seawater.
-
You: makes a bulletproof chest plate without even trying Me: looks for my phone while im holding it
-
i wonder what crap he will have to go through when he gets to the steam area he will have to build a fricken train XD
-
The pozzolan ash was used for the underwater concrete they used. For the above ground concrete they used specific types of ash ( harena fossicia and carbunculus) that had to be freshly mined to make sure it was chemically active. You can try to calcine the ash you have to see if you can get a reaction. The aqueducts were lined with one part lime to three parts testa— underfired clay tiles milled to a powder. Essentially calcined clay that contained a sodium or potassium containing mineral used as a flux.
-
-
When you revisit the cured Roman concrete brick I would also see a clay brick that was fired broken back down and mixed in with a new brick, then refired. This was a common practice Where you would use failed bricks that were ground and reused. They were supposedly a lot stronger.
-
In addition to your chosen ingredients, "Roman Concrete" might have been made with salty sea water And VOLCANIC aggregate material. Some claim that the layer of play-do consistency blend was added in layers and into each layer the workers pounded up to fist sized volcanic stones ... then the next layer of mortar mix was pounded in such a way as to fill the pores of the volcanic stones. This layering continued until the desired size and shape was complete.
-
There is a chapter about roman concrete in my school latin book lmfao
-
So one thing you can try for your concrete is using aggregate with sharper edges rather than smooth and soft, because it will help it to lock together better and be stronger. Also it looks like your concrete was a little dry maybe.
-
He needs to redo the factory brick test- it was sitting on something that caused uneven pressure, and premature failure.
-
This is one of those times my local city comes into play as I live near Bath in the UK that has one of the only Roman Baths that still stands today. Thanks to this invention.
-
10 weeks later: "In the 1960s they used this kind of primitive tools to shoot a man to the moon. See if we can reclaim this ancient technology for our own moon mission!"
-
Naturally occurring porous glass! That’s so cool! Modern concrete additives also includes low density glass micro bubbles that helps make it light. You can even build a canoe out of this special concrete!
-
Doctor stone this week was awesome
