Which structural mechanism caused the collapse of some Roman aqueduct arches during seismic activity and large temperature swings?

💡 Explanation

During seismic events and large temperature changes, differential thermal expansion creates tensile stresses exceeding the tensile strength of the Roman concrete, causing cracking and eventual arch collapse. Therefore tensile failure results, rather than shear, buckling, or torsion, which require forces in different directions/ locations.

• Which outcome arises from thermal expansion within a brass framed 18th-century sextant used at sea?
• Which mechanism limited structural integrity in 18th-century wooden ship hulls navigating tropical waters?
• Which risk increased within medieval fortifications when trebuchet artillery adopted counterweight designs circa 12th century?
• Which error amplified during multi-sight celestial navigation using an 18th-century sextant affects calculated longitude most significantly?
• Which structural vulnerability arose when Roman aqueducts crossed seismic fault lines?
• Which optical effect enabled Alhazen to accurately describe image formation in a pinhole camera obscura?