Compressibility behaviour of peat reinforced with precast stabilized peat columns and FEM analysis

Abstract

Researches have been done to discover ways to strengthen peat soil deposits. In this model study, fibrous peat that is the most compressible types of peat has been reinforced with precast peat columns stabilized with ordinary Portland cement and polypropylene fibres. Rowe cell consolidation tests as well as plate load tests (PLTs) were conducted on various types of test samples to evaluate the strength and deformation of untreated peat and peat reinforced by various types of columns. PLTs were conducted in a specially designed and fabricated circular steel test tank. The compression index (Cc) and recompression index (Cr) of fibrous peat samples reduced considerably upon use of precast columns. Also, PLT results confirmed the results obtained from Rowe cell tests. Use of polypropylene fibres added to cement further decreased (Cc) and (Cr) and increased load bearing capacity of untreated peat. Finite element method (FEM) using Plaxis 3D was carried out to evaluate the stress distributions along various types of tested samples and also, to compare the deformations obtained from FEM analysis with the actual maximum deformations found from PLTs. FEM results indicate that most of the induced stresses are taken on the upper portion of tested samples and reach their maximum values below the loading plate. Also, a close agreement was found between actual deformation values obtained from PLTs and values resulted from FEM analysis for various types of tested samples.