Abstract
This paper presents the engineering properties and compressibility behavior of various types of tropical peat soil collected from several locations in Malaysia. These soils represented fibric, hemic and sapric type of tropical peat with organic content ranging from 70% to 90%. The correlations of the various basic engineering properties of the tropical peat soils have been found to be close and new equations have been established. Loss on ignition (Organic Content) appears to be a very useful parameter for the peat. It correlates well with the natural water content, liquid limit, density and specific gravity. Compressibility behavior of various type of peat soil was measured using Rowe Cell consolidation test for accuracy and conventional oedometer test for comparison purpose. Compressibility index Cc and Cα was identified as two crucial parameters to estimate settlements in peat soil. Parametric study has been carried out at the end of the study to foresee the effect of surcharge on fibric, hemic and sapric peat ground. Based on the results obtained, it shows that fibric peat recorded the highest settlement followed by hemic and sapric peat with increase in consolidation pressure.
Highlights
Peat is an organic soil which consists more than 70% of organic matters
One of the main objectives of this study is to find the relationship between the basic geotechnical properties of peat soil with index parameters such as natural water content, organic content and liquid limit
Correlations of index properties: As mentioned before, one of the main objectives of the paper is to study the relationship of the basic geotechnical properties of tropical peat soils with some of the determined parameters such as natural water content, organic content or liquid limit
Summary
Peat is an organic soil which consists more than 70% of organic matters. Peat deposits are found where conditions are favorable for their formation. In Malaysia, some 3 million hectares of land is covered with peat. Peat poses serious problems in construction due to its long-term consolidation settlements even when subjected to a moderate load[1]. Peat is considered unsuitable for supporting foundations in its natural state. Various construction techniques have been carried out to support embankments over peat deposits without risking bearing failures but settlement of these embankments remains excessively large and continues for many years. Stability problems during construction such as localized bearing failures and slip failures need to be considered
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