Effect of surcharge on consolidation of peat soil

Abstract

Peat are formed by disintegration of plant and organic matters. In Malaysia, the area covered by peat deposit is about 3 million hectares or 8 % of the total area of Malaysia. Peat is generally considered as among the worst foundation materials due to high water content and compressibility and low bearing capacity. Differential and excessive settlements are the principle problem confronting the engineers working on these peat soils. These impose difficult design and construction conditions, thus necessary to know the geotechnical properties of these soils to enable a more practical design to be carried out. This study is focused on the effect of surcharge on the consolidation of peat soil. The sample were collected from Batu Kawan, Pulau Pinang and categorized as sample A and B by disturbed sample method. Then, the engineering characteristics of peat soil were determined by conducting laboratory test. These are the fundamental test which are important to give clear description on Batu Kawan peat soil parameters. As expected there was high degree water content, liquid limit and organic content within the peat soil samples and the fiber content of Batu Kawan peat soil for sample A and B which are 89.2 % and 89.5 % respectively were considered to be high. Other test are shear box and oedometer test to determined the parameters cohesion1.3 kPa and 1.18 kPa, friction angle , compression index 9.57 and 21.57 and coefficient of consolidation 7.49 mm²/min and 7.52 mm²/min for the peat soil sample. From the result, value of Compression Index, Cc and Coefficient of Consolidation, Cv are increse follow up the loading applied.