Principal Investigator: Prof Dr A K M Badrul Alam 

Title: Investigation of the utility of polyurethane in enhancing the stability of shale-rock: A rock engineering study focused on Chattogram, Bangladesh 

Fund: 3,79,500/- 

Objectives: 

In this research the following points will be addressed. 

1. Polyurethane's Impact on Shale Stability. The study aims to investigate the efficacy of polyurethane in enhancing shale stability against water infiltration. This involves assessing whether polyurethane can mitigate water-induced destabilization in shale-rock. 

2. Quantifying Polyurethane's Influence: If polyurethane proves effective, the research will quantify the extent to which it enhances shale stability. This involves conducting experiments and analyzing data to provide a quantitative measure of the improvement achieved with polyurethane treatment. 

3. Development of a Numerical Stability Model: The research will involve the development of a numerical stability model specific to shale rock masses. This model will incorporate the findings regarding polyurethane's impact, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the stability dynamics in shale-rock. 

Application in Military: 

The Bangladesh Army is significantly involved in advancing nation-building efforts by addressing the communication infrastructure in the hill tracts area, constructing new roads and culverts by solving engineering challenges. The knowledge acquired from the research can be extrapolated to effectively tackle slope stability issues in the local shale-rock formations. 

Expected outcome: 

By conducting the comprehensive study, the efficacy of polyurethane in enhancing the stability of shale-rock will be affirmed through the laboratory experiments and numerical analysis, playing a crucial role in determining slope stability. 

Duration: 2 years