How to Prevent Flow Failures in Tailings Dams

• DOI: 10.1007/s10230-021-00752-8
• Publication Date: 2021-02-19T11:23:47Z
• Authors: Roberto Rodríguez; Alejandro Muñoz-M...; Ana Vanessa Caparrós; Cristóbal García-...; Ángel Brime-Barrios; Julio César Arran...; Virginia Rodrígue...; Francisco Javier ...; Alberto Alcolea
• Keywords: Tailings dam; Saturation (graph theory); Degree of saturation; Effective stress

Abstract Based on research carried out at 67 tailings dams in Spain: (1) contain alternating sedimentary layers with contractive and dilative geomechanical behaviours; (2) saturate quickly but drain more than 10 times slower due to the high-suction capacity of porous sediments (2–300 MPa); (3) over long-term, a stationary flow regime is attained within basin. Four temporal spatial conditions must all be present for tailing failure occur: experience behaviour; fully saturated; effective stress static or dynamic load approach zero; (4) shear exceed residual stress. Our results also indicate that degree saturation (S r ) most influential factor controlling dam stability. The pore-pressure coefficient controls geotechnical stability: when it exceeds 0.5 = 0.7), safety decreases dramatically. Therefore, instrumental preventing failures, can achieved using double drainage system, one unconsolidated foundation materials another overlying tailings.