Compressibility Behavior of Fibrous Peat Reinforced with Cement Columns

This paper presents the compressibility of fibrous peat reinforced with cylindrical cement columns. The effects of the cement column diameter on the compressibility have been investigated in this study. The results indicated that compressibility index C _c and C _α decreased with increasing diameter of the cement column. Specimens with 45 mm (area ratio = 0.09) diameter and 60 mm (area ratio = 0.16) diameter of cement columns were cured for 7, 14 and 28 days, after which they were subjected to Rowe Cell consolidation test. Results are also presented from tests conducted on groups of cement columns using four (area ratio = 0.04) and nine (area ratio = 0.09) columns of 15 mm diameter each to investigate the influence of the number of cement columns on compressibility of peat. Apart from that various proportions of cement were used to form cement columns in order to study the influence. Based on the results obtained, it shows that cement columns can successfully reduce the compressibility of fibrous peat.