CEMBERTOWICZ PROCESS OF SOIL STABILIZATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A046100350001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 20, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 19, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/04: CIA-RDP80T00246A046100350001-1
KNE"o . ? . + . + .
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C. Sees. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
C-O-NF-I-D-ENT-I-A-L
COUNTRY Poland
REPORT
SUBJECT Cembertowicz Process of Soil DATE DISTR.
Stabilization
NO. PAGES
39 DL 18
1
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ.
SOURCE EVALUATIONS ARE DEFINITIVE. APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
4 report containing information concern-in
a process o using a ec ric y o stabil.ze ea'th.
STATE ARMY NAVY x AIR FBI AEC
(Note: Washington distribution indkoted by "X"; Field distribution by "#".)
LI
IA
INFORMATION REPORT INFORMATION REPORT
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/04: CIA-RDP80T00246AO46100350001-1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/04: CIA-RDP80T00246AO46100350001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/04: CIA-RDP80T00246A046100350001-1
THE CEMT RTOWICZ PROCESS OF SOIL STABILIZATION
Introduction
his process was first discovered and used by a
engineer prior to W II. It was during WW II that Professor
Romnald TOWICZ of Poland worked in the further development of this
process. After WW II CEMBERTOWICZ was assigned to the
Gdansk Polytechnic in GDANSK and was given a large financial grant by the Polish
Mw&rnment tn further develop this ess
From 1945 to 1955, Professor CEMBERTOWICZ never made public the actual 50X1-HUM
method of operation of his process. He always personally supervised this process
when it was applied.
This process could only be applied successfully within a limited belt
(area) which was approximately 10 m wide and from 15 to 50 m long. In cases
where tide areas were being stabilized, repeated processes had to be applied.
In order to be successful it was applied continually for a period of 15 to 30
days and at times longer depending on the type of terrain which was being stabi-
lized. The actual process of electro-osmosis was attained by driving two metal
bars, i.e., I-beams,atissh=t,. into the ground within the limited area
of the foundation under which the earth was to be stabilized. The metal bars
were usually sunk about three to four meters below the level of the foundation.
After this was accomplished, a direct current of electricity was sent through the
steel bars which started the process of electro-osmosis. The electricity used in
this process was taken from any commercial source in the vicinity of the project.
The electricity was sent through a transformer which was usually set up for that
purpose. The transformer lowered the voltage to approximately 380 volts and
changed the current from alternating current to direct current. The earth's
water was used as a conductor of the electric current. The process was further
based on the utilization of kine-chemical deposits in the earth which were moved
to a desired area with the aid of the water and the electric current. The
mechanics of this phenomenon could be compared with the workings of a suction-
pressure pump as well as electrical reaction where a cathode will attract cer-
tain minerals and chemicals whereas an anode will reject the same. For example)
the following minerals
magnesium, quartz, and bauxite.
being attracted to a cathode. calcium, 50X1-HUM
By taking advantage of this electrical reaction of the cathode and the
anode, substantial chemical and mineral deposits could be drawn to a desired
area within the earth.?-r!liis became petrified sandrock and bound the loose earth )thus
strengthening the foundation of the sagging structure.
In cases where the earth lacked sufficient quantities of the proper
chemicals and minerals, different types of emulsions were injected into the
earth in the IsA"iate area where the electro-osmosis process was being conducted.
The emulsions usually consisted of calcium, magnesium, quartz, bauxite, or marl.
These wire7ai?id with':-either-water 6Jr'a thin'eolution of asphalt. The mixture
was then pumped into specially dug holes approximately three meters deep in the
C 6, sv/1L)EN7 " L
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/04: CIA-RDP80T00246AO46100350001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/04: CIA-RDP80T00246AO46100350001-1
C,o ,v,t /,06,Y 71,6a)-,
imm8 i4 ; of the project. When an asphalt solution was used it was necessary
to use iaported asphalt which was far . superior to domestic asphalt. Imported
asphalt contained only one-half percent by volume paraffin as compared with the
domestic product which containedfour percent by volume. The'high percentage of
paraffin present in the domestic product caused difficulties for proper binding.
2. Actual Application of the Cembertowicz Process
This process was used for the first time in 1949 in WARSAW. Several
months after the Ea+l West Tunnel (Wachod-zachod) was completed under Ulioa
Krakowskie Przedmiescie in the vicinity of the ancient St Ann's Roman Catholic
Church, the church's foundation began to sink and the interior walls began to
crack. After extensive investigation it was established that the construction
of the tunnel was responsible for the church's sinking. Polish engineers con-
structed supporting walls as well as injected concrete veins into the surrounding
earth.
CEMBERTOWICZ was called on to apply his process. After a period of
time the foundation was again stabilized. It was never verified whether it was
CEMPBRTOWICZ's method which was responsible for the stabilization or whether.it was a
combination of the three methods applied. Nevertheless the Polish Government
awarded and praised CENMRTOWICZ as being the one responsible for saving the
ancient structure.
The second time his process was used was in 1954 in China. The Complete
Objects Export Central (Centrala Ekaportu Yompletnych8ibjektOv_cEKOP) was con-
tracted to construct a sugar mill in that country. Due to faulty geological
surveys and probings, the mill's foundation began to sink. CETABERTOWICZ was
sent to China to apply his process. This time it proved to be a complete suc-
cess and he wars hailed as the man responsible for saving the'prestige of the
Polish engineers who were responsible for the construction of the sugar mill.
CEMSERTOWICZ experimented extensively for 10 years in conjunction with
Engineer Zbiegniew MORON,the director of the Central Bureau of Mining Projects
in the Silesian mining region. They attempted to apply this process in the
excavation of new mine shafts and strengthening old ones. After lengthy tests
it was established that this process was impractical in this field, and the old
method of freezing weak layers of earth when new shafts were sunk was most prac-
tical and most economical.
3. General Evaluation of the CEMEERTOWICZ Process
This process was found to be very costly due to the large amount of
electric current which was needdd to accomplish a successful end. The added in-
jections of emulsions were also costly in materials and man-hours. However the
greatest fault of the process was that it could only be conducted in a limited
area. this method would never be used in road and 50X1-HUM
railroad construction due to the limited areas of its workability and the lengthy
time needed to accomplish a thoroughly satisfactory end.
4. General
this method of soil stabilization was known to the
the - Sve'ba `did ' t3tfee the -method of elevtro-osmosis for the purpose of
examining the eoneistenc of the earth where they intended to construct future
projects the
which was utilized for this purpose.
Soviets had a mobile 'electro-osmosis F.
they used this in place of the old method of drilling for
Sam
peso ear on the desired terrain.
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/04: CIA-RDP80T00246AO46100350001-1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/04: CIA-RDP80T00246AO46100350001-1
 50X1-HUM
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Introduction 50X1-HUM
this process was first discovered and used by a
engineer prior t
Romuald TOWICZ o Pola. vorked It was during WW II that Professor
, in the further development of this
process, After WW II CEM3ERTOWICZ returned to Poland. He was assigned to the
Gdansk Polytechnic in GDANSK and was given a large financial ant b the Polish
Government to further develop this process.
From 1945 to l955,,Professor CEMBERTOWICZ never made public the actual
method of operation of his process. He always personally supervised this process
when it was applied,
This process could only be applied successfully within a limited belt
(area) which was approximately 10 m wide and from 15 to 50 m long. In cases
where wide areas were being stabilized, repeated processes had to be applied,
In order to be successful it was applied continually for a period of 15 to 30
days and at times longer depending on the type of terrain which was being stabi-
lized. The actual process of electro-osmosis was attained by driving two metal
bars, ice,, I-beams and -feel into the ground within the limited area
of the foundation under which the earth was to be stabilized, The metal bars
were usually sunk about three to four meters below the level of the foundation.
After this was accomplished9 a direct current of electricity was sent through the
steel bars which started the process of electro-osmosis. The electricity used in
this process was taken from any commercial source in the vicinity of the projeck.
The electricity was sent through a transformer which was usually set up for that
purpose. The transformer lowered the voltage to approximately 380 volts and
changed the current from alternating current to direct current. The earth9s
water was used as a conductor of the electric current. The process was further
based on the utilization of kine-chemical deposits in the earth which were moved
to a desired area with the aid of the water and the electric current. The
mechanics of this phenomenon could be compared with the workings of a suction=,
pressure pump as well as electrical reaction where a cathode will attract cer-
tain minerals and chemicals whereas an anode will reject the same. For example.,
the following mineralsn being attracted to a cathode -,calcium, 50X1-HUM
By taking advantage of this electrical reaction of the cathode and the
anode, substantial chemical and mineral deposits could be drawn to a desired
area within the earth, - This became petrified sa;irock and bound the loose earth, th
strengthening the foundation of the sagging structure.
In cases where the earth lacked sufficient quantities of the proper
chemicals and minerals, different types of emulsions were injected into the
earth in the immediate area where the electro-osmosis process was being conducted.
The emulsions usually consisted of calcium, magnesium, quartz, bauxite, or marl.
These were mixed with either water or a thin solution of asphalt. The mixture
was then pumped into specially dug holes approximately three meters deep in the
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/04: CIA-RDP80T00246AO46100350001-1
 50X1-HUM
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/04: CIA-RDP80T00246AO46100350001-1
a-0 !IVY i0 EN7/,9.L
immediate area of the project. When an asphalt solution was used it was necessary
}j use imported asphalt which was far superior to domestic asphalt. Imported
asphalt contained only one-half percent by volume paraffin as compared with the
domestic product which contained four percent by volume. The high percentage of
paraffin present in the domestic product caused difficulties for prcper binding,
2. Actual Application of the Cembertowicz Process
This process was used for the first time in 1949 in WARSAW, Several
months after the East='Test Tunnel (Wschod-Zachod) was completed under Ulica
Krakowskie Przedmiescie in the vicinity of the ancient St Annee Roman Catholic
Church, the churches foundation began to sink and the interior walls began to
crack. After extensive investigation it was established that the construction
of the tunnel was responsible for the churches sinking. Polish engineers con-
structed supporting walls as well as injected concrete veins into the surrounding
earth.
CEMBERTOWICZ was called on to apply his process. After a period of
time the foundation was again stabilized. It was never verified whether it was
CEMBERTOWICZ u s method which was responsible for the stabilization or It was aa,
combination of the three methods applied. Nevertheless the Polish Government
awarded and praised CEMBERTOWICZ as being the one responsible for saving the
ancient structure.
The second time his process was used was in 1954 in China.. The Complete
Objects Export Central (Centrala Eksportu Kompletnych Objr,ktyw?-CE, KOP) was con-
tracted to construct a sugar mill in that country., Due to faulty geological
surveys and probings9 the milles foundation began to sink, CE11 RTOWVICZ was
sent to China to apply his process. This time it proved to be a complete suc-
cess and he was hailed as the man responsible for saving the prestige of the
Polish engineers who were responsible for the construction of the sugar mill,
CEMBERTOWICZ experimented extensively for 10 years in conjunction with
Engineer Zbiegniew MORON,the director of the Central Bureau of Mining Projects
in the Silesian mining region. They attempted to apply this process in the
excavation of new mine shafts and strengthening old ones. After ten thy tests
it was established that this process was impractical in this field., and the old
method of freezing weak layers of earth when new shafts were sunk was most prac-
tical and most economical,
3, General Evaluation of the CEMBERTOWICZ Process
This process was found to be very costly due to the large amount of
electric current which was needdd to accomplish a successful end. The added in-
jections of emulsions were also costly in materials and man-hours. However the
greatest fault of the process was that it could only be conducted in a limited
area, this method would never be used in road and
railroaa construction due to e limited areas of its workability and the lengthy
time needed to accomplish a thoroughly satisfactory end.
4. General
Soviets
this method of soil stabilization was known to hP 50X1-HUM
the Soviets did utilize the method of electro-osmosis for the purpose of
examining the consistency of the earth where they intended uture
projects. the
Soviets ha a mobile e.ec ro-osmosis unit which was utilized for this purpose.
they used this in place of the old method of drilling for
samples of earth on the desired. terrain,
Cm Nrit FIYT//,,,2
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