Shear Modulus and Damping Properties of Peat Soils

Soils are subjected to dynamic loading of various forms. Some of these result from sources
such as earthquakes, traffic loads and tidal action. To assess the level of the consequent ground
motion of the soil, two parameters those are vital in dynamic analysis; shear modulus (G) and
damping ratio (D) properties (Adnan et. al, 2007, Adnan and Wijeyesekera, 2008). Dynamic
properties of soils such as sand, silt and clay have been studied for more time in the past (Chen et al.,
2007, Hyde and Ward, 1985). However only a insignificant amount of work has been done on the
dynamic properties of peat. This paper presents experimental results based on the undrained cyclic
tests on different peats. Samples were collected from Holme Fen Post, Cambridgeshire and Solway
Post, Carlisle. VJTech Cyclic Triaxial Testing Apparatus was used to measure these parameters. The
significance of peat type, microstructure, loading frequency, confining pressure and index properties
are also discussed.

Citation:
Zainorabidin, A; Wijeyesekera, D.C. (2009) ‘Shear Modulus and Damping Properties of Peat Soils’ Proceedings of the AC&T, pp 61 -67..