Undrained Shear Strength of Beaufort Peat: Behavioural Analysis

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Peat soil is a highly organic surface layer primarily derived from plant remains. Peat, on the other hand, is the subsurface of wetland systems and consists of unconsolidated superficial layers with a high content of non-crystalline colloid (humus). It is generally dark brown to black, has an organic odour, and a spongy consistency. Peat soil is commonly found in swamp areas and is a partly decomposed organic layer of soil generated from plant matter that accumulates under conditions of waterlogging, high acidity, oxygen scarcity, and nutritional deficiency. Peat soils typically have a low shear strength ranging from 5 to 20 kPa, high compressibility from 0.9 to 1.5, and a high moisture content exceeding 100%. Peat also exhibits significant deformation, varied magnitudes, and specific structures, with an organic matter content exceeding 75%. The investigation of peat soil involves Unconsolidated Undrained Triaxial Tests, where parameters are explored under varying Total Stress of 13kPa, 25kPa, 50kPa, and 100kPa, with samples taken from three different locations: Kpt-L1, Kpt-L2, and Kpt-L3. The findings suggest that different peat soil locations yield varying results due to differences in composition. The Triaxial Test Unconsolidated Undrained was used for the peat soil in Sabah. This was the first time this test was conducted by a researcher at Klias Peat Swamp Field Centre in Beaufort, Sabah. Unconsolidated Undrained and Consolidated Undrained tests are not significant since the moisture content of peat soil is high.

Klias Peat Soil: A Depth-Based Property Assessment

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Peat soil is crucial in Southeast Asia, particularly in Sabah, where it exhibits high water content, low density, and significant organic matter. This research investigates the unique engineering behavior and characteristics of Klias tropical peat, focusing on index properties such as fiber content, organic content, and natural water content compared to other Malaysian regions. Key objectives include studying the physical properties, decomposition levels, and in-situ density of peat with depth, as well as examining its chemical composition. Results indicate distinct variations in peat density and composition at different depths, with average moisture content at 258%, organic content at 91%, fiber content at 75%, pH at 3.7, and specific gravity at 0.748. The degree of decomposition is classified as H5-H6. Findings reveal that peat density increases with depth, while sulfur remains constant (0.1% to 3.4%), oxygen decreases (28% to 24%), and carbon increases (60% to 76%) with depth. This study also explores the application of Peat Sampler in understanding the engineering behavior and characteristics of peat.

Journal of Soil, Environment & Agroecology

Undrained Shear Strength of Beaufort Peat: Behavioural Analysis

Klias Peat Soil: A Depth-Based Property Assessment