NTL Record

Title Polyurethane Resin (PUR) Injection for Rock Mass Stabilization
Record ID 68681
Personal Name
Creator
Arndt, Ben; DeMarco, Matthew; Andrew, Richard
Personal Name
Contributor
Surdahl, R.; Ortiz, Ty; Greer, Matt; Siel , Barry
Corporate Creator United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Central Federal Lands Highway Division
Corporate
Contributor
Yeh and Associates
Publisher United States. Federal Highway Administration. Central Federal Lands Highway Division
Publication Date 20080901
Language English
Abstract The Federal Lands Highway (FLH) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently investigated the application of polyurethane resin (PUR) injection as a rapidly deployed, cost-effective ground and structure stabilization method. Application objectives included the preservation of historic, cultural and other environmentally sensitive natural and man-made features, while maintaining the original visual characteristics and aesthetic appeal. Most recently, in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), FLH completed full-scale PUR demonstration projects at a historic tunnel located along highway SH 14 in the scenic Poudre Canyon west of Ft. Collins, CO, and at a dry-stack stone masonry retaining wall supporting highway SH 149 along the Rio Grande River northwest of South Fork, CO. The Poudre Canyon demonstration involved PUR injection and stabilization of a previously bolted section of the western tunnel portal, where annual freeze/thaw cycles and rock mass creep toward the adjacent Cache La Poudre River were contributing to rock mass instability. The South Fork demonstration involved PUR injection within a culturally-sensitive dry-stack stone masonry wall that was progressively failing. In addition to the FLH sites, CDOT also contributed PUR injection data from a recent rock slope stabilization project along highway US 6 in Clear Creek Canyon just west of Golden, CO. Based on the lessons learned from these investigations, application guidance has been developed for the selection of polyurethane resin products and injection methods to (1) stabilize failing rockmasses (e.g., rock slopes, unique rock promontories, escarpments), and (2) preserve aging and/or deteriorating man-made structures (e.g., historic retaining walls, archeological structures).
Public Note COTR: Matthew DeMarco, FHWA-CFLHD; Advisory Panel Members: Roger Surdahl, FHWA-CFLHD; Ty Ortiz, CDOT; Matthew Greer, FHWA-CO Division; Barry Siel, FHWA-RC. This project was funded under the FHWA Federal Lands Highway Technology Deployment Initiatives and Partnership Program (TDIPP)
Rosap ID dot:42938
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/42938
TRT Terms Polyurethane resins; Soil stabilization; Injection (Geology); Gluing; Rock slopes
General Subjects Polyurethane; Polyurethane Resin; PUR; Ground Stabilization; Rock Gluing; Polymers
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Contract Number DTFH68-04-D-00004
Report Number FHWA-CFL/TD-08-004
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/68000/68600/68681/FHWA-CFL-TD-08-004.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository