2000 years of Roman concrete in the Mediterranean: relying on the past, to better predict the future

Fructuous Jésugnon SOHOUNME (Doctor, Institute of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN))

From the 1st century before Jesus Christ, the Romans built a series of harbour structures around the Mediterranean basin (Italy, Crete...) using mortar based on lime and pozzolane.

Nowadays, some parts of these ports are still visible.

Through this conference, I explain how the ongoing research at IRSN proposes to follow the physico-chemical evolution of these mortars to better predict the long-term aging of modern concrete.