COSMOSM used to investigate architecture of the Roman Aqueduct

Company Dept of Structural Engineering of the Politecnico of Turin Industry Civil Engineering Location Italy Product Used COSMOSM Type of Analysis Linear Static, Frequency More Details

The Challenge
The Regional Archaeological Superintendence and the Department of Structural Engineering of the Politecnico of Turin undertook a joint project to investigate the static conditions and structural characteristics of the Roman Aqueduct of Acqui Terme in Piedmont, Italy. This highly significant example of hydraulic engineering dates back to the first century B.C. The group was to determine how the ancient Roman Aqueduct at Acqui Termi, Italy, was built to last for more than 2000 years, despite severe weathering and flooding.

The Solution
The team used COSMOSM for the structural analysis. After measuring the structure and determining the physical-mechanical characteristics of both the original materials and others added during later repair work, they modeled the aqueduct in BEAM elements and performed static and modal analysis.

The examining team found that the Romans used an ample margin of safety in their masonry for normal service conditions -- sufficiently ample to keep the structure standing more than 2000 years in spite of the weakening effects caused by progressive loss of material over the ages.