: how did people in the past ensure that a building/structure will be structurally sound?
In: 5150
They didn’t really. The buildings that are still around is survivorship bias. Most of the buildings are gone. Saying ancient Romans or whatnot built better structures is definitely false. Maybe their most expensive things that were likely (partially) rebuilt and repaired for hundreds of years, iterated upon with trial end error, like the Colleseum or Aqueducts.
And most modern buildings aren’t made to last thousands of years. They are assumed to be replaced within a century, so it’s not built as tough and sturdy. NYC Skyscrapers are made from massive blocks of limestone or marble just like the pyramids. They’re built to last.
Addendum: Ancient Romans also used additives like fine volcanic ash (pozzolana) in their concrete to make it crack resistant. We absolutely can do that today, but it’s just cost prohibitive to get the highest quality. Unless we absolutely need something to last for hundreds of years with little maintenance, like a dam, we use lower quality Portland cement.
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