To improve today’s concrete, do as the Romans did

Berkeley (Univ) News ^ | 6-4-2013 | Sarah Yang

[Renfield]

Ping

[fieldmarshaldj]

Of course, in America, one main ingredient in a lot of concrete is dead mobsters.

[Alex in chains]

Roman highways have withstood 2000 years of the elements.

Here is the condition of Michigan roads by comparision:

[Slump Tester]

Even back then, there was always some smart-ass telling the finishers “You don’t have to rub it, it’ll get hard.”

[Revolting cat!]

Jeez, and I thought it was to mix in the ashes of Christians. But OK, mobsters and union officials will do.

[Telepathic Intruder]

"Roman concrete also leaves a smaller carbon footprint than does its modern counterpart"

Ah, so that's why the Romans weren't wiped out by climate change. So now all we have to worry about is Vandals and Visigoths.

[wildbill]

I wonder if the lava flows from recent volcano eruptions like St. Helens, Indonesian Mt. Tambora, and the Caribbean Monserrat could provide a new source of revenue to these areas—or if the shipping costs of the ash and tufa would be too costly?

[DuncanWaring]

They’re worse in Milwaukee.

[JRandomFreeper]

Amazing that they could write the whole article without once mentioning the word pozzolana.

/johnny

[csmusaret]

There was no lava flow from Mt St Helens.

[wildbill]

But wasn’t there a lot of ash expelled into the surrounding areas? I think ash would be easier to ‘mine’ than hardened lava flow.

[TBP]

BTTT

[csmusaret]

Oh yes. There was oodles and gobs of ash...just no lava.

[Smokin' Joe]

Michigan uses union labor...

the Romans likely used slaves.

[Da Coyote]

“...But OK, mobsters and union officials will do....”

Please add West Wing and Obamadork cabinet officials to the mix....although this addition will make the smell intolerable.

[zeugma]

Despite all the eco nonsense this article is laced with, it’s interesting. Sounds like Montana could have been a major exporter after Mt. St. Helens erupted. That’s one way to get rid of all that ash, ship it elsewhere!

[katana]

Roman legions provided the labor force for road construction. Built them as they went along into new territories to allow for transport of supplies and, if necessary, fast retreat. They built fortified camps wherever they stopped. They were master builders and the famous double siege wall around Alesia is just one example.

[American in Israel]

Grant money makes for a lot of study in the moot point area. We use fly ash because its cheap, cheaper than cement. They used volcano ash because it was cheap, cheaper than cement.

Good, glad thats over, but practical information for our Millions of Dollars in grants?

Zero.

And still the streets don’t get fixed.

[libstripper]

Except Jimmy Hoffa. After his trip to the rendering plant, his remains were interred in the tummies of thousands of dogs.