The hydraulic characteristics of Roman lead water pipes: An experimental investigation

Abstract

An experimental investigation was conducted on two lengths of Roman lead water pipe excavated near Corbridge, Northumberland, England. The pipes date from approximately AD 80. One length of pipe contained a sleeve joint. The pipes were linked to a pump system using 3 D-printed connectors, and the hydraulic head loss along the pipe was measured. The pipe without a joint was used to determine a value for the wall roughness height, fitting the results to the Darcy-Weisbach equation. The wall roughness height obtained was assumed to apply to the pipe with the joint, and the additional head loss observed was then assumed to be due to the joint, allowing determination of a local loss coefficient. The pipes have a sinter encrustation, indicating that they had typically flowed partially full. Using this as an indication of water depth and deriving topographical information from the excavation report, the likely flow the pipes carried during their operational life was estimated. It was concluded that the pipe wall roughness coefficient k_s was 0.9 mm, the joint local loss coefficient was 1.159, and that during operation the pipe probably carried around 17 litres/minute.

Keywords:

• Roman
• pipe
• friction
• coefficient
• joint
• head losses

Notes

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Additional information

Notes on contributors

Martin Crapper

Martin Crapper is professor of civil engineering at Northumbria University; he is a hydraulic engineer and has a strong interest in applying modern hydraulic modelling to understand ancient Roman water systems. He has worked extensively on the aqueducts supplying Constantinople as well as on Pompeii and the Colosseum.

Davide Motta

Davide Motta is a civil and environmental engineer with expertise in a broad portfolio of water-related problems at the boundary between the natural and built environments and a particular interest in archaeohydrology. He has published on the hydraulics of ancient Roman water infrastructure and travertine deposition in Roman aqueducts.

Coree Sinclair

Coree Sinclair and Dominic Cole studied civil engineering at Northumbria University, completing the work described in this paper as their final year research project. They have since gone on to careers in industry, Coree with the Genuit Group plc and Dominic with Amey plc.

Dominic Cole

Coree Sinclair and Dominic Cole studied civil engineering at Northumbria University, completing the work described in this paper as their final year research project. They have since gone on to careers in industry, Coree with the Genuit Group plc and Dominic with Amey plc.

Maria Monteleone

Maria Monteleone is a post-doctoral research associate at Northumbria University, currently working on the Roman and Ottoman water systems of Constantinople. She is a hydraulic engineer and has previously worked on Pompeii and many other Roman water systems.

Adam Cosheril

Adam Cosheril and Jonathan Tree are senior technicians at Northumbria University, providing expert practical assistance with 3D printing, physical experimentation and health and safety issues in the laboratory.

Jonathan Tree

Adam Cosheril and Jonathan Tree are senior technicians at Northumbria University, providing expert practical assistance with 3D printing, physical experimentation and health and safety issues in the laboratory.

Andrew Parkin

Andrew Parkin is Keeper of Archaeology at the Great North Museum: Hancock. His background is in archaeology and museum education with over 25 years' experience of working with archaeology collections. He has also been employed as a lecturer and secondary school teacher, focusing on ancient history, history and archaeology.