Foreign travelers taking a road trip through Europe may feel a wave of anxiety before crossing over a 2,000-year-old bridge in a modern car fully loaded with luggage. However, this may be counterbalanced by the understanding that such structures have, by definition, stood the test of time. Also, for those who understand the history of engineering, it may be balanced by understanding that its ancient designers would have ensured impact resistance. A load much heavier than any load that would exceed it in reality. As classic history YouTuber Garrett Ryan explains, there is no scientific way to model stress. new told in stone video abovethey had to build it tough.
The key to its sturdiness was the arch, which was “constructed of heavy blocks resting on a foundation trestle until the keystone was inserted into place.” From the late 1st century onwards, masonry was supplemented or replaced by brick and Roman concrete. This is a substance that is often featured in open culture.
We also covered Roman bridges that can still be crossed today. alcantara bridge in spain (from Arabic AlkanshalaFor example, the archway (meaning “arch”) “shows no signs of failure” despite 250,000 vehicles passing through it each year. or french Pont de Marchand“Since the Middle Ages, it has supported neighborhoods lined with high-rise shops and residences.”
But the arches of the approximately 1,000 Roman bridges that have survived in full or in part were not entirely about geometry. “The load-bearing capacity of the bridge depended both on the solidity of the abutments and on the strength of the arch stones between the upper keystone and the lower vault, or “shear point.” “Roman builders carved voussoirs from the sturdiest stone readily available, so the bridges tended to be surprisingly sturdy.” Although it would be undesirable to run freight trains across the Alcantara Bridge, the 40 No problem if you have a ton truck. Not to mention a fully loaded car, a few kids, and even a dog or two.
Related content:
Roman roads and bridges that can still be walked today
The mystery finally solved: Why is Roman concrete so durable?
The beauty and ingenuity of the Pantheon, ancient Rome’s best-preserved monument: an introduction
Why didn’t the Pantheon’s dome collapse?: How did the Romans design their dome to last into the 19th century?
Visualizing ancient Roman roads in the style of a modern subway map
Roman Architecture: Free Online Course at Yale University
Based in Seoul, Colin Mbemust write and broadcastIt’s about cities, languages ​​and cultures. His projects include the Substack newsletter books about cities and a book Stateless City: A Stroll Through Los Angeles in the 21st Century. Follow him on Twitter @Colinbemust or facebook.
