Which structural failure mode limited the height of Roman defensive walls constructed with opus caementicium?

💡 Explanation

Shear failure occurred because the lateral earth pressure from backfilled earthen ramps exerted significant horizontal forces on high opus caementicium walls exceeding the tensile strength of the mortar, leading to sliding or cracking. Therefore, shear was the height limiting factor, rather than tensile cracking, buckling or corrosion all of which result from different stress regimes.

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