The 4th International Symposium on Mine Safety Science and Engineering (ISMSSE2018)

250 / 2018-05-10 15:26:12

Mechanism Analysis of Factors Affecting the Stability of Fine Tailings Dam

fine tailings dam; phreatic surface; parameter sensitivity analysis; slope stability

Mine Dynamics Disaster > tailings pond

Worldwide, there are two to four tailings dam failures most years, and the consequences of ongoing failure continue to increase over time. Hence, it is critical to make a better understanding of the factors affecting the stability of tailings dams. A three-dimensional finite element model of fine tailings dam with material partition is established. Necessary discussion is done on the external and internal factors affecting the stability of fine tailings dam. The external factors are mainly focused on three aspects, including starter dam drainage capacity, dry beach length and downstream slope ratio, all of which can make influence on the location of phreatic surface. The internal factors mainly involve the shear strength of tailings silty clay and tailings clay. Based on the sensitivity analysis of cohesion and internal friction angle, the influence on safety factor and the plastic zone distribution of the tailings dam are discussed. The results give insights into how these factors influence the safety mechanism of fine tailings dam.