Roman Arch

Roman Empire had grown and was very strong. But then they learn how to design and build good houses with the utilization of the arch and concrete. This Written Assignment will address the development of both concrete and arch, their importance in the life of Rome and the results of their use.

The arch is a curved symmetrical structure spanning an opening and typically supporting the weight of a bridge, roof, or wall above it. The Romans did not invent the arch but actually learned the arch from the Etruscan, refined it and the first builders to tap its full potentials from above ground buildings (wikipedia, 2016).The importance of the arch could be seen on most Roman ancient building and bridges as it permitted them to build curve like structures which wouldn’t have been possible without it utilization. There were different type of arch configuration which includes the fixed arch, the hinged arch and the three-hinged arch. In general the fixed arch was most often used in reinforced concrete bridge and

They took from the Greeks the three orders of architecture, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian, based on different forms of column and the capital which prevailed it, and added a fusion of their own, known as Composite (Kamm, 2008). They did not end there but thought of better ways to improve what they borrowed. They invented concrete from pozzolana, a chocolate-color volcanic earth which was initially found around the Greek settlement of Puteoli and later discovered in other areas. Concrete and pozzolana were so important in erecting buildings. Pozzolana permitted the Romans to make mortar or plaster which when mixed with lime provide strengthening for materials such as chips of rock and broken brick. Concrete in the other hand provided the ability to produce massive structures when judiciously used with bricks. It enable the Romans to utilize stone shapes of different types during their