International Seminar on REDSTAR – Juni 2012

THE COMPACTION POTENTIAL IN INCREASING COMPRESSIVE AND SHEAR

STRENGTH AT PEAT SOIL

Aazokhi Waruwu*
Civil Engineering Departement, Medan Institute of Technology, Medan 20217,
Indonesia.
*
Correspodance, HP : 081362098080, e-mail : azokhiw@yahoo.com

Key words: Peat, compaction, unconfined compressive strength, Cohesion and angle
of internal friction

ABSTRACT
Peat soils have less profitable physical properties than other soil types, especially
high moisture content, high compression and low bearing capacity. Moisture content
can be reduced by compaction. Compaction is expected to increase the cohesion
value, the angle of internal friction value, and unconfined compression strength as
well as increase the bearing capacity of peat soil. This study used a peat sample
from the village Bolungkut Marbau Labuhan Batu Utara district. Research carried out
a determination of the direct shear strength parameters of peat soils using Direct
Shear Test equipment. Shear strength and Unconfined compression testing
performed on undisturbed, disturbed, and compaction samples. Increase the shear
strength parameters value of peat soil due to compaction occurs only in the angle of
internal friction value. While the cohesion value is not affected by peat soil
compaction, where the c value at 0.031 kg/cm2 undisturbed samples were
unchanged. Unconfined compression after a compacted return of 0.24088 kg/cm2, on
undisturbed samples at 0.03059 kg/cm2, and 0.18212 kg/cm2 for disturbed samples
kg/cm2. The increase occurred 8 times in undisturbed samples testing compacted
again. This is caused by low levels of the moisture content of the test after re-
compacted.

INTRODUCTION

Peat based on the occurrence is mixture of organic fragments material derived from

rotted plants. Peat soil is divided into 2 (two) major groups namely fibrous peat

(fibrous peat), non fibrous peat (amorphous granular peat). To distinguish the peat

soil is based on fiber content. According Endah and Eding (1999), fibrous peat

content of ≥ 20% while non fibrous peat content of < 20%.

This Peat type of loose conditions without mixture studied by Elias et. al.

(2008) can be seen great gap between the particles in variety size, as well as the

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inter-granular large size amorphe and the presence of microbes. The width of the

peat particles about 10 to 50 µm.

Peat soils have unfavorable properties for the construction of buildings on it,

because it has a high moisture content, low bearing capacity, high compression.

Endah (1997) gives the physical properties of peat soils include a high enough

capacity to absorb and store moisture, so the moisture level is quite high and will

decrease dramatically when mixed with inorganic soil.

Low bearing capacity is one of the unfavorable properties of peat. Shear

strength parameters can be used to determine the bearing capacity of the soil with

triaxial tests, direct shear strength and unconfined compressive strength. CU Triaxial

test results according to the Elias et. al. (2008), from a mixture of peat and the PC-V

with levels of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% with the save 1 day and 4 days, it seems that

the addition of PC-V mixture levels ranging from 10% to 30% in peat soil increases

the soil shear strength parameter values, especially the cohesion value (c ').

According Waruwu A. (2011) direct shear strength test results can be seen

that the cohesion values and angle shear peat soil at Muara Batang Toru increased

with the addition of load and load duration where the value of angle of internal

friction, significant change at 4 days while the cohesion value is not experiencing

tremendous change.

Pradip and Nagarnaik (2008), compressive strength test results indicate a

failure in the voltage axial direction reached at an axial strain 2.3%, 2.80% and 3.4%,

respectively of coal ash to the soil. The results of Kalantari Behzad and Huat Bujang

B K. (2010), indicates that the compressive strength values, due to the addition of

cement and fiber have increased after brooded a few days. Sing research, et.al.

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(2008), the connection between compressive strength and strain-free vertical peat

soil by adding 4% sodium chloride.

One alternative being done to improve peat soil by performing the compaction

of peat soil first and then perform the direct shear testing of peat soil, so the expected

increase in peat soil cohesion value and angle of internal friction value, which also

can increase the bearing capacity of peat soil. Therefore carried out research on

compaction to improve the shear strength of peat soil. Bearing capacity of peat soil is

compacted will be known from unconfined compression test. So that researchers

interested in reviewing the value of unconfined compression on peat soil in Marbau

Labuhan Bolungkut Batu Utara District.

RESEARCH METHODS

Test material studied is taken from a peat soil in Bolungkut Labuhan Batu Utara

district of North Sumatra. Retrieval is done by digging and pressing the tube into the

soil in order to obtain undisturbed soil samples, while for disturbed soil immediately

put in burlap.

Tests were performed using the undisturbed soil samples, disturbed soil

samples, and compacted soil samples. In addition, research is also done with a

unconfined compression test and moisture content testing, specific gravity, fiber

content, ash content and organic content. Tests conducted at Laboratory of Soil

Mechanics of Medan Institute of Technology.

Preliminary studies of peat soil, there are four tests performed moisture

content, specific gravity, density test, organic content, fiber content, and ash content.

Shear strength testing performed on undisturbed soil samples taken from tube, the

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disturbed soil and some varieties of moisture content of the compaction test results.

Compaction test uses standard proctor consisting of 5 (five) mold to obtain the

connection between moisture content and dry weight content. From this graph we will

get the optimum moisture content and maximum dry weight of contents. The number

of optimum moisture content 95%, 100% optimum moisture content, and 105%

optimum moisture content is used for the amount of water needed in the mixing of

compaction.

Shear strength testing use direct shear strength. Load given each 10 kg, 20 kg

and 30 kg,shear strength testing obtained the connection between normal stress and

shear stress to determine the angle of internal friction value and the cohesion of

undisturbed peat soils, peat soil is disturbed, and peat soils compacted.

In the Compressive strenght testing procedure on peat soil Bolungkut Marbau

Labuhan Batu Utara district performed with 4 samples in each test. There are 3 free

testing of unconfined compression test is:

1. Compressive strength testing to undisturbed sample

2. Compressive strength testing to disturbed samples

3. Compressive strength testing to re-compacted samples

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Preliminary research on the physical properties of peat soils can be seen in Table 1.

According Table 1 peat soils studied can be classified as Low Ash-peat (peat soils

with low ash content) according to ASTM D4427-84 (1989) because contains of ash

content <5%, as well as not a fibrous peat (amorphous granular peat) because the

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fiber content <20%. Marbau Bolungkut districts peat have very high moisture content

at 511.95% whereas most of the pores moisture absorbed around grain surfaces.

Table 1. Physical testing of peat soils

No Testing Data Results
1 Moisture content (wc) 511.95%
2 Wet Density (γb) 1.083 gr/cm3
3 Dry Density (γd) 0.177 gr/cm3
4 Specific Gravity (Gs) 1.38
5 Void ratio (eo) 6.01
6 Ash content 1.46 %
7 Fiber content 5.12 %
8 Organic content 20.62 %

Compaction Testing Results

Compaction testing results by the standard proctor method (Figure 1) on peat soil of

Bolungkut Marbau Labuhan Batu Utara district gained 187.00% moisture content

optimum and dry density 0,278 gr/cm3. Based on the standard proctor test results,

then the value is used as a measure of the sample specimen mixing on unconfined

compression test.

0,30

0,28
Dry Density (g/cm )
3

0,26

y = -0,0001x 2 + 0,0378x - 3,2438

0,24

0,22

0,20
160 166 172 178 184 190 196 202 208

Moisture Content ( % )

Figure 1. The results of compaction testing

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Compressive Strength of Peat Soil

Test results on unconfined compressive strength of peat soil Bolungkut Marbau

Labuhan Batu Utara district based on standard proctor shows 0.03059 kg/cm2 for the

undisturbed and 9.0% strain at failure, disturbed by 0.18212 kg/cm2, a stretch when

the failure 4.0% and 5.0% , and after a re-compacted 0.24088 kg/cm2, a stretch when

the collapse 4.0%.

Unconfined Compressive strength of peat soil Bolungkut Marbau Labuhan

Batu Utara district showed the mean that each 0.03059 kg/cm2, a stretch when the

failure 9.0% in the undisturbed, disturbed 0.18212 kg/cm2, a stretch when the failure

4.0% and 5.0%, and the sample after re-compacted 0.24088 kg/cm2, strain when the

failure of 4.0% (Figure 2).

The results of graphics merging compressive strength testing on the

undisturbed, disturbed sample, and re-compacted, can be seen in Figure 2, the

highest compressive strength value is in the test sample after re-compacted about

0,253 kg/cm2, while in the disturbed samples the highest compressive strength

values is 0,208 kg/cm2, for undisturbed samples the highest strength value of 0,029

kg/cm2.

0,3

0,25
Compressive Strenght (kg/cm )
2

0,2

Unconfined
0,15 Disturbed
Compaction

0,1

0,05

0
0 5 10 15
Axial Strain (% )

Figure 2. Merging among Undisturbed, Disturbed, and after re-compacted

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Compaction Effect on the Angle of Internal Friction and Cohesion Values

Test results of direct shear strength can be seen that the cohesion values and angle

of internal friction on the peat soil increased by the compaction. The highest cohesion

and angle of internal friction values are compacted with 95% optimum moisture

content value. It should be also pointed out that the cohesion value of disturbed soil

less affected by compaction, as shown in Figure 3 that the cohesion value 0.031

kg/cm2, in contrast with the increased angle of internal friction from 8,92o in

undisturbed soil, 12,54o to the disturbed samples, increased to 30.01 to 95% after

compaction.

Cohesion kg/cm2) Angle of Internal Friction (%)

0,035 35
0,03 30

Angle of Internal Friction (%)

0,025 25
Cohesion (kg/cm 2 )

0,02 20

0,015 15
0,01 10

0,005 5
0 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Moisture Content (%)

Figure 3. Moisture content connection to Cohesion and Angle of internal friction

Value

Connection Normal Stress To The Shear Stress Of Peat

In the process of direct shear strength tests on peat soil Bolungkut Marbau Labuhan

Batu Utara district where given sample are different, the maximum shear strength

values occur in compacted samples with moisture content used 95% from optimum

moisture content (Figure 3). Compaction results provide a considerable improvement

in the connection of shear stress and normal stress, especially at 95% compaction;

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this shows an enough increase in angle of internal friction value and gave little

increase in cohesion value.

Angle of internal friction value and increased cohesion greatly affect the

bearing capacity of the soil increased as the analysis of soil bearing capacity is

determined of cohesion value and also the angle of internal friction.

0,7
0,6
Shear Stress (kg/cm2)

Undisturbed
0,5
Compaction 95%
0,4
Compaction 100%
0,3
0,2 Compaction 105%
0,1 Disturbed
0
0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1 1,2

Normal Stress (kg/cm2)

Figure 4. Graph the connection between normal stress to shear stress

CONCLUSIONS

1. Peat of Bolungkut Marbau Labuhan Batu Utara district has average compressive

strength value with increase occurred 8 times in the re-compacted undisturbed

testing samples. This is caused by low levels of moisture content after re-

compacted. Due to higher moisture content value the lower to compressive

strength.

2. Test results of direct shear strength can be also pointed out that the cohesion

value of disturbed soil less affected by compaction, that the cohesion value 0.031

kg/cm2, in contrast with the increased angle of internal friction from 8,92o in

undisturbed soil, 12,54o to the disturbed samples, increased to 30.01 to 95% after

compaction.

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3. Compaction results provide a considerable improvement in the connection of

shear stress and normal stress, especially at 95% compaction; this shows an

enough increase in angle of internal friction value and gave little increase in

cohesion value. Angle of internal friction value and increased cohesion greatly

affect the bearing capacity of the soil increased as the analysis of soil bearing

capacity is determined of cohesion value and also the angle of internal friction.

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1) Endah, N., 1997, Perbedaan Perilaku Teknis Tanah Lempung dan Tanah
Gambut, Jurnal Geoteknik, HATTI, Jakarta.
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Gambut Berserat di Indonesia, Jurnal Teknik Sipil, ITB, Vol. 6, No. 1, Januari
1999, Bandung.
3) Hermawan, et. al. (2009), Kajian Geoteknik Lapisan Gambut untuk Fondasi
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4) Ilyas, et.al, (2008), Studi Perilaku Kekuatan Tanah Gambut Kalimantan yang
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2010 pp 9-15.
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