ABSTRACT
Peat represents the extreme form of soft soil. It is subject to instability, such as localized sinking and slip failure, and massive primary and long-term settlement when subjected to evenmoderate load increases. In addition, there is discomfort and difficulty of access to the sites, tremendous variability in material properties and difficulty in sampling. Peat may also change chemically and biologically with time. For example, further humification of the organic constituents will alter the soil’s mechanical properties, such as compressibility, shear strength and hydraulic conductivity. Lowering of ground water may cause shrinking and oxidation, leading to humification with a consequent increase in permeability and compressibility.
