Characteristics of Soil Suction with Filter Paper Test Method

Abstract

Soil suction is the ability of the soil to absorb water. Type of soil in this research was peat soil and clay soil. The soil samples had been used were taken from Dusun III Banyu Urip, Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatera Province. Laboratory testing with Filter Paper test method. The filter paper used is Whatman Filter Paper No.42. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) had been used to analyze the orientation of fibre content. While Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) also to analyze the chemical elements. Characteristics of peat soil are water content value (ω) is 294.30 %, acidity (pH) value is 3.000, and peat soils classified as fibrous peat soils. While the characteristics of clay soil are water content value is (ω) 62.05 %, acidity (pH) value is 5.000, and clay soils classified as A-7-5 (AASHTO) and OH (organic clay) based on USCS. The result of the test paper filter test on peat soil obtained from the value of suction is (Ψ) 3.2432 kPa-17.5230 kPa. As well as the results of testing the Filter Paper test method on the clay obtained the value of suction is (Ψ) 61.8733 kPa-100.3421 kPa. So, from the research, the value of suction from clay soil is more than a value of suction peat soil based on Filter Paper test method.