REINFORCEMENT MODELING USING GEOTEXTILE FOR BEARING CAPACITY OF SHALLOW FOUNDATION ON PEAT SOIL

Abstract: This research aims to determine the effect of woven geotextile reinforcement on increasing the bearing capacity of shallow foundations on peat soil. The peat soil sample from Sukadamai Village, Pedamaran District, Ogan Komering Ilir Regency, South Sumatra, with characteristics of water content (, 357.361%), specific gravity (Gs) 1.534, organic content 67.087%, and pH 5.75. The testing method was carried out in the laboratory using foundation modeling with variations in depth and number of layers of geotextile reinforcement. Testing was carried out using the direct loading method and analysis of load graphs against settlement. Results showed that woven geotextile reinforcement significantly increased the bearing capacity of shallow foundations. The maximum bearing capacity value was recorded at 12.81 kPa or increased by 3.03% at a variation in reinforcement depth d = 0.25B with 3 layers of geotextile and a reinforcement width of 60 cm × 60 cm. The highest Bearing Capacity Ratio (BCR) value of 3.09 was also achieved in this configuration. The more layers and the more optimal the depth of reinforcement, the greater the bearing capacity produced. This research concludes that the use of woven geotextiles is effective in improving the characteristics of peat soil for shallow foundation construction purposes, and opens up opportunities for further development for implementation in the field.