Doug Porter, of the University of Vermont, teamed with Angelyn Bass, of the University of New Mexico, to present their recent work at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. Their project began as a structural monitoring program, in collaboration with MIT, and Angelyn first walked the audience through the computer modeling investigation of a particular section of rock. The modeling was meant to investigate structural stability, collapse scenarios and potential failure points. Doug then discussed the geological formations at the park and the presence of a clay & calcite deposition in combination with biofilm colonization which the team thought could be providing structural stability and weathering resistance to the tuff rock. Their site investigation included absorption tests for those areas covered with biogrowth in comparison to recently exposed surfaces. They also looked at permeability and erosion resistance. The presentation acknowledges that biogrowth is identified as a deterioration process in most cases, but may also be contributing to the preservation of the substrate.
AIC’s 40th Annual Meeting, Architecture Session: “Biofilms and Weather Resistance of the Rhyolitic Tuff: Preservation of the Cavates and Petroglyphs at Bandelier National Monument”, May 11, 2012
