High elastic stiffness
Maintains reinforced-layer stiffness and load distribution under repeated heavy and dynamic loading.
Energy and utility projects require reliable access roads and stable working surfaces throughout construction, operation and maintenance. However, crane pads, turbine platforms, pipeline corridors, terminals, substations and service routes must often support heavy or oversized loads over weak ground.
In addition, remote locations, limited aggregate supplies, severe weather and tight schedules increase construction risk. As a result, infrastructure must be delivered efficiently while protecting asset performance, environmental commitments and continuity of service.
Therefore, effective ground stabilization helps developers, utilities, operators and EPC contractors improve equipment access and protect project schedules. At the same time, it supports asset integrity and reliable energy and utility operations.
Neoloy® Tough-Cells provide 3D mechanical soil stabilization for access roads, work platforms and utility infrastructure. When expanded, filled and compacted, the cellular structure confines the infill and creates a stiff load-distribution layer over weak ground.
As a result, the reinforced layer distributes vertical loads laterally and improves pavement or platform stiffness. In turn, this helps control rutting, settlement and lateral movement under heavy loads.
Moreover, the system can reduce imported aggregate, pavement thickness, excavation and subgrade replacement. Where engineering design permits, approved local, marginal or recycled materials can also serve as structural infill. Therefore, projects can reduce material requirements without compromising the validated design.
For energy and utility infrastructure, Neoloy® Tough-Cells can help:
Finally, Neoloy® Tough-Cells are manufactured from Novel Polymeric Alloy (NPA). Consequently, they provide the stiffness, strength and dimensional stability required for heavy loading, long-term confinement and demanding energy infrastructure conditions.
Maintains reinforced-layer stiffness and load distribution under repeated heavy and dynamic loading.
Supports long-term dimensional stability and limits loss of confinement over the design life.
Resists hoop stresses and lateral movement as loads are transferred through confined infill.
Supports use in saturated, frozen, sandy, acidic and other demanding soil and climate conditions, subject to project design.
Reinforces protective earthworks, crossings, drainage areas, slopes and containment-related ground infrastructure around energy assets.
Creates reliable construction and service access for oil, gas, geothermal, grid and renewable-energy sites over weak or remote ground.
Stabilizes hardstands for rigs, tanks, pumping stations, equipment, substations, storage terminals and high concentrated loads.
Supports pipeline access, trench and crossing areas and reinforced soil zones above or below pipelines and underground utilities.
Provides service roads and working areas for towers, lines, substations, utility corridors and maintenance vehicles.
Reinforces oversized-load routes, turbine erection areas, crane pads, solar-farm roads and long-term maintenance access.
Increase effective subgrade or reinforced-layer strength by up to approximately 7.6x in suitable designs and test conditions.
Reduce vertical stress transferred to the weak subgrade by approximately 50% where the reinforced slab effect is achieved.
Reduce pavement or structural-layer thickness by approximately 50% or more in suitable access-road and platform designs.
Design hardstands for bearing requirements around 250 kN/m² and crane loads up to approximately 200 tonnes, subject to full engineering verification.
Support routes for specialized trailers with single-axle loads in the approximate 12–24 tonne range when designed for the project load spectrum.
Limit lateral displacement, differential settlement and surface deformation under repeated heavy traffic and concentrated loads.
Simplified deployment, lower material quantities and local infill can shorten construction schedules in remote or weather-sensitive locations.
Improved load distribution and drainage integration support more reliable construction and maintenance access through seasonal weather changes.
Reduce costs associated with imported aggregate, excavation, subgrade replacement, thick pavement layers and specialized logistics.
Reduced rutting, settlement and layer degradation can decrease grading, overlays, repairs and service interruptions.
Stable access and work areas reduce the risk of construction delays, equipment immobilization and restricted maintenance access.
Reduce aggregate or structural infill requirements by approximately 35–70%, depending on the reference design and site conditions.
Reduce logistics and construction footprint by up to approximately 50% through thinner layers and lower material demand.
Use project-approved local sand, native granular soils or recycled material to reduce dependence on imported virgin aggregate.
Stabilize weak ground in place and reduce subgrade removal, disposal, borrow-pit demand and earthmoving operations.
Reduce truck movements, fuel use, dust, emissions and disturbance associated with transporting aggregate to remote sites.
An energy facility expansion in Canada required heavy-duty access roads across deep, saturated muskeg peat with an average CBR below 1%. Because poor drainage, summer rainfall, snowmelt and subzero winters further weakened the ground, conventional excavation, imported fill and drainage solutions were technically and economically impractical.
Therefore, the engineered road incorporated two layers of Neoloy® Tough-Cells, geotextile separation and locally available sand. While the lower layer improved subgrade support, the upper layer formed a semi-rigid load-distribution platform designed for 250,000 ESAL. As a result, the road provided reliable access despite the difficult ground and weather conditions.
Project value delivered
Completed within six weeks despite rainfall and difficult ground conditions
Provided all-weather access over peat with an average CBR below 1%
Avoided deep soil replacement, thereby reducing aggregate hauling
Delivered a repeatable design that led to additional road orders
View MEG Energy Access Road Case Study
PRS supports energy developers, utilities, pipeline operators, EPC contractors and civil engineers with project evaluation, pavement and platform optimization, material selection, value engineering, installation guidance and project-specific technical support.