Simulation study on various shapes of pad footing sub-structure on Batu Pahat soft soil

This study describes a study on the geotechnical behavior of pad footing shapes using a finite element code, PLAXIS. In determining the suitability of footing to loadings, design criteria requires that the shapes and sizes should function according to the soil and types of structures erected on it. Higher loading will require bigger footing as this will give better support. Theoretically, a larger surface area will disseminate the loadings and reduce possibility offailure. However, this is not economical as more materials will be needed for the construction of the footing. Footing shapes is hypothetically considered as a factor that might affect the performance of footing. Non-linear finite element analyses based on a stress-strain model were performed to obtain the load-settlement responses of axially loaded on pad footings. It is essential since such design analysis, which is based on numerical analysis, could have advantages in providing preliminary expected outcomes for the modeling purpose. In conjunction to this matter, the potential ofPLAXIS V8 finite element to predict the settlement of various shapes pad footing are performed successfully

Overview of the Sustainable Uses of Peat Soil in Malaysia with Some Relevant Geotechnical Assessments

Peat soil is an important ecosystem that provides a significant contribution to the global climate stability. In Malaysia, peat soils are considered as a soil with little economic benefit, apart from it being used for agricultural activity. The total world coverage of peat soil is about thirty million hectares with Canada and Russia having the largest distribution of peat (Zainorabiddin,2010). More than sixty percent of the world’s tropical peat lands are found in South-East Asia (Lette,2006). Most notable are the large peat land on the islands of Borneo (belonging to Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei) and Sumatra (Indonesia). However, there are also significant occurrences in other parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. The main contributory functions and benefits of peat soil are within the engineering disciplines of hydrology, agriculture, social-economics, biodiversity habitats and carbon sequestration. Peat was used in temperate climates (especially in Finland, Ireland, Sweden and UK) as a fuel to generate electricity and heat. Therefore peat can be considered as a renewable energy source but this will be very detrimental to the market of genuine renewables. The western coastal lowlands of Malaysia (such as Kukup) are mangroves that represent the initiation of peat soil formation. Such areas provide the natural habitat of mangrove forests. It also fixes more carbon from the atmosphere than is released and approximately one-quarter of the carbon stored in land plants and soils. On the other hand, peat is one of the problematic or challenging foundation soil of poor quality due to it’s very high water content, high compressibility and low shear strength. Peat consists of decomposed plant fragments and the unfavourable characteristics of peat soil deposits make them unsuitable for making sustainable infrastructure development for varied engineering projects. This paper therefore gives an overview of the pros and cons debate of sustainability aspects and in the light of the challenges it poses to infrastructure development in Malaysia

New Technique Assessment of Plastic Limit of Soft Clay Particularly Peat Soils

Plastic Limit (PL) is considered as the moisture content at which soil becomes too dry to remain plastic. Both the British Standards Institute (BS 1377 (1990)) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM D4318 (2001)) are consistent with their proposition of determining PL as the moisture content when the soil crumbles upon rolling it to thread of 3 mm diameter. However for challenging soils such as peat which is naturally organic substance derived from the remains of plants, the “rolling method” is not appropriate, particularly in the area of fibrous peat. Very little information is available in the public domain for satisfactory techniques to define PL. Huat (2004) reported that west Malaysia Peat has a PL of 100-200% and Liquid Limit (LL) of 190-360 % Therefore, the aim of this paper is to make a critical evaluation of this and alternative method to determine PL particularly for peat. The authors have investigated the extended adoption of the standard cone penetration (30^0 apex angel, 80g of mass, 20mm penetration) method used in the liquid limit determination recommended in BS 1377 and ASTM 4318. As early as 1978 (Wood and Worth) and as research on 2000 (Feng) the modified cone penetration method has been proposed for the determination of PL but only focusing on cohesive soil. This paper presents the “full range” penetration–water content data obtained at intervals of 5 percent moisture content for four different soils (laterite soil, kaolin, local clay (RECESS) and Peat). The results indicated that the standard method and new techniques give very satisfying result. It is apparent that the author\u27s analysis using the cone penetration method will be more feasible means of measuring Plastic Limit of soil especially for peat soil

New Technique Assessment of Plastic Limit of Soft Clay Particularly Peat Soils

Plastic Limit (PL) is considered as the moisture content at which soil becomes too dry to remain plastic. Both the British Standards Institute (BS 1377 (1990)) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM D4318 (2001)) are consistent with their proposition of determining PL as the moisture content when the soil crumbles upon rolling it to thread of 3 mm diameter. However for challenging soils such as peat which is naturally organic substance derived from the remains of plants, the “rolling method” is not appropriate, particularly in the area of fibrous peat. Very little information is available in the public domain for satisfactory techniques to define PL. Huat (2004) reported that west Malaysia Peat has a PL of 100-200% and Liquid Limit (LL) of 190-360 % Therefore, the aim of this paper is to make a critical evaluation of this and alternative method to determine PL particularly for peat. The authors have investigated the extended adoption of the standard cone penetration (30^0 apex angel, 80g of mass, 20mm penetration) method used in the liquid limit determination recommended in BS 1377 and ASTM 4318. As early as 1978 (Wood and Worth) and as research on 2000 (Feng) the modified cone penetration method has been proposed for the determination of PL but only focusing on cohesive soil. This paper presents the “full range” penetration–water content data obtained at intervals of 5 percent moisture content for four different soils (laterite soil, kaolin, local clay (RECESS) and Peat). The results indicated that the standard method and new techniques give very satisfying result. It is apparent that the author's analysis using the cone penetration method will be more feasible means of measuring Plastic Limit of soil especially for peat soil