Peat soil is a complex and dynamic material that requires careful consideration in various engineering applications

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 14 views

The Effect of Variations in Soaking Time on the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Value and a Review of Free Compressive Strength Values on Peat Land in Muara Manopas Village, South Tapanuli Regency

Introduction

Peat soil is a type of soil that is rich in organic content, the result of decomposition of plant material. This soil is distinguished based on the environment of its formation into two categories: Ombrogen peat soils that are formed from rainwater and usually form thick domes, as well as topogenic peat soils formed in the inland areas of coastal or river plains and are more fertile due to the influence of minerals from tidal water. Peat soil is a complex and dynamic material that requires careful consideration in various engineering applications. This study focused on peat soil in Muara Manopas Village, Muara Batang Toru District, South Tapanuli Regency, with the aim of understanding the physical properties of peatlands and changes that occur in the value of California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and free compressive strength after soaking in various duration.

Background

Methodology

The main purpose of this study is to measure the value of peat soil CBR and know how variations in immersion time-which are carried out for 2, 4, and 6 days-affect the physical properties and compressive strength of the soil. The study used a laboratory-based approach to investigate the effects of soaking time on the CBR value and free compressive strength of peat soil. The results showed that peat soils in Muara Manopas Village had very high water content, reaching 534.70%, and specific weight of 1.31 and a pore figure of 5.79. Meanwhile, the weight of the soil wet volume was recorded at 0.96 gr/cm³, the weight of the dry volume was 0.18 gr/cm³, the ash content was 57.32%, and the organic content was 42.69%. With a low soil pH, which is 3.43, this soil is included in the category of very acidic peat soil.

Results

In CBR testing, the CBR value on the original soil is 4.54% for unsaped conditions. However, after immersion, the CBR value shows a significant decrease. After 2 days of immersion, the CBR value to 3.62%, then dropped to 2.42% after 4 days, and decreased to 1.81% after 6 days. This shows that the longer the peat soil is submerged, the ability to support the soil also decreases, which can affect its use in construction. The results of this study highlight the importance of considering the effects of soaking time on the CBR value and free compressive strength of peat soil.

Discussion

The free compressive strength tested using the Unconfined Compression Test (UCT) method is obtained at 0.16 kg/cm², which shows that this peat soil has very low strength. Decreased CBR value and free compressive strength due to immersion can be explained by changes in the physical properties of the soil that occurs due to water absorption. High absorption of water causes peat soil to become more saturated, resulting in a reduction in soil particle interactions, and decreased soil carrying capacity. The results of this study have important implications for the design and construction of structures on peatlands.

Conclusion

Overall, this study shows that peatlands in Muara Manopas Village have unique characteristics and are highly influenced by soaking factors. This is important to consider in the application of civil engineering, especially in the selection and design of the structure that will be built on peatlands. With a good understanding of the nature of peat soils, it is hoped that appropriate steps can be taken to manage and utilize this soil resource on a sustainable manner. The findings of this study highlight the need for further research on the properties and behavior of peat soil in various engineering applications.

Recommendations

Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Further research is needed to investigate the effects of soaking time on the CBR value and free compressive strength of peat soil in various engineering applications.
The use of peat soil in construction should be carefully considered, taking into account the effects of soaking time on the CBR value and free compressive strength of the soil.
The development of new technologies and techniques is needed to improve the management and utilization of peat soil resources on a sustainable manner.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

The study was conducted in a laboratory setting, which may not accurately reflect the conditions found in the field.
The study only investigated the effects of soaking time on the CBR value and free compressive strength of peat soil, and did not consider other factors that may affect the behavior of the soil.
The study only used a limited number of samples, which may not be representative of the larger population of peat soils.

Future Research Directions

Based on the findings of this study, the following future research directions are suggested:

Investigate the effects of soaking time on the CBR value and free compressive strength of peat soil in various engineering applications.
Develop new technologies and techniques to improve the management and utilization of peat soil resources on a sustainable manner.
Investigate the effects of other factors, such as temperature and humidity, on the behavior of peat soil.

References

[List of references cited in the study]

Appendix

[List of appendices, including tables, figures, and additional data]

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Q&A: The Effect of Variations in Soaking Time on the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Value and a Review of Free Compressive Strength Values on Peat Land in Muara Manopas Village, South Tapanuli Regency

Q: What is peat soil and why is it important to study its properties?

A: Peat soil is a type of soil that is rich in organic content, the result of decomposition of plant material. It is an important topic of study because of its unique properties and its potential use in various engineering applications.

Q: What are the main differences between Ombrogen and topogenic peat soils?

A: Ombrogen peat soils are formed from rainwater and usually form thick domes, while topogenic peat soils are formed in the inland areas of coastal or river plains and are more fertile due to the influence of minerals from tidal water.

Q: What were the main objectives of this study?

A: The main objectives of this study were to measure the value of peat soil CBR and know how variations in immersion time-which are carried out for 2, 4, and 6 days-affect the physical properties and compressive strength of the soil.

Q: What were the results of the CBR testing?

A: The CBR value on the original soil was 4.54% for unsaped conditions. However, after immersion, the CBR value showed a significant decrease. After 2 days of immersion, the CBR value dropped to 3.62%, then to 2.42% after 4 days, and decreased to 1.81% after 6 days.

Q: What were the results of the Unconfined Compression Test (UCT) method?

A: The free compressive strength tested using the UCT method was obtained at 0.16 kg/cm², which shows that this peat soil has very low strength.

Q: What are the implications of the results of this study?

A: The results of this study highlight the importance of considering the effects of soaking time on the CBR value and free compressive strength of peat soil. This is important to consider in the application of civil engineering, especially in the selection and design of the structure that will be built on peatlands.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations, including the study being conducted in a laboratory setting, which may not accurately reflect the conditions found in the field, and the study only investigating the effects of soaking time on the CBR value and free compressive strength of peat soil, and did not consider other factors that may affect the behavior of the soil.

Q: What are the future research directions suggested by this study?

A: The following future research directions are suggested: investigate the effects of soaking time on the CBR value and free compressive strength of peat soil in various engineering applications, develop new technologies and techniques to improve the management and utilization of peat soil resources on a sustainable manner, and investigate the effects of other factors, such as temperature and humidity, on the behavior of peat soil.

Q: What are the recommendations of this study?

A: The following recommendations are made: further research is needed to investigate the effects of soaking time on the CBR value and free compressive strength of peat soil in various engineering applications, the use of peat soil in construction should be carefully considered, taking into account the effects of soaking time on the CBR value and free compressive strength of the soil, and the development of new technologies and techniques is needed to improve the management and utilization of peat soil resources on a sustainable manner.

Q: What are the potential applications of this study?

A: The findings of this study have important implications for the design and construction of structures on peatlands, and can be used to improve the management and utilization of peat soil resources on a sustainable manner.

Q: What are the potential benefits of this study?

A: The potential benefits of this study include the development of new technologies and techniques to improve the management and utilization of peat soil resources on a sustainable manner, and the improvement of the design and construction of structures on peatlands.

Q: What are the potential challenges of this study?

A: The potential challenges of this study include the complexity of peat soil behavior, the need for further research to investigate the effects of soaking time on the CBR value and free compressive strength of peat soil in various engineering applications, and the need for the development of new technologies and techniques to improve the management and utilization of peat soil resources on a sustainable manner.