ABSTRACT
The paper describes innovative geotechnical methods to implement staged construction of surcharged embankments up to 5.5 m high on very soft blanket peat soils in north west Ireland. Shear wave velocities, CPT ball tests and direct simple shear tests were used to assess the undrained strength of the peat. Intermediate hold periods and consolidation benefits were exploited to optimise the filling schedule. Changes to instrumentation, basal reinforcement, anchorage detailing and filling rates were implemented to assure stability. Detailed interpretation of settlement and pore pressure responses during loading and unloading at instrument clusters is presented, including back-calculated field coefficients of consolidation and observed deformation ratios.
