Assessment of Residual Strength of Tailings Using the Cone Penetration Test and Simplified Numerical Modelling

使用锥入度试验和简化数值模型评估尾矿的剩余强度

• 批准号: 537738-2018
• 负责人: Ghafghazi, Mohsen
• 金额: $ 2.42万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=699357
• 关键词: Assessment; Residual; Strength; Tailings; Using

Tailings dams are massive man-made earth structures used for disposing large quantities of mining by-products, known as tailings. A great majority of the rock crushed for ore extraction does not contain sufficient amounts of desired minerals. These silt-and-sand-sized materials are mixed with water and deposited in a loose state behind small compacted perimeter embankments. In many cases, over time, tailings and compacted embankments are built on top of each other to form massive structures known as tailings dams. Like all other embankments, tailings dams are susceptible to failures as their height and slope increases, or under extreme events such as earthquakes. Tailings dams failures release massive amounts of water and tailings that can cause loss of life and property and irreparable environmental damage (e.g. Fundao tailings dam in Brazil). To ensure safe and sustainable mining operations, tailings dams are continuously evaluated by Geotechnical engineers. These evaluations include assessing the strength of tailings against earthquakes using empirical methods that are developed for natural soils deposited by rivers and oceans. The fundamental differences between tailings and natural soils make the application of existing empirical methods questionable. The proposed collaborative research will develop a method for assessing the post-failure resistance of tailings, which determines how remedial measured are designed. The partner company will gain a competitive advantage in having tailings-specific engineering methods that ensure more economical and safer designs. These methods will save mining companies millions of dollars in tailings disposal costs, increase the safety of Canadians living near tailings and protect their environment.

尾矿大坝是用于处置大量采矿副产品（称为尾矿）的巨大人造地球结构。绝大多数用于矿石提取的岩石不包含足够数量的所需矿物质。这些淤泥和大小的材料与水混合，并沉积在小压实的周长路堤后面的松散状态。在许多情况下，随着时间的流逝，尾矿和压实的路堤彼此顶部建立，以形成称为尾矿大坝的大型结构。像所有其他路堤一样，尾矿大坝容易随着高度和斜坡的增加或地震等极端事件而容易发生故障。尾矿大坝故障释放大量的水和尾矿，可能导致生命和财产损失以及无法弥补的环境破坏（例如，巴西的基金会尾矿大坝）。为了确保安全和可持续的采矿作业，尾矿大坝是由岩土工程师不断评估的。这些评估包括使用针对河流和海洋沉积的自然土壤开发的经验方法来评估针对地震的尾矿强度。尾矿和自然土壤之间的根本差异使现有的经验方法的应用令人怀疑。拟议的协作研究将开发一种评估尾矿后抗性抗性的方法，该方法决定了如何设计补救措施。合作伙伴公司将在使用特定于尾矿的工程方法方面获得竞争优势，以确保更经济，更安全的设计。这些方法将为矿业公司节省数百万美元的尾矿处置成本，提高居住在尾矿附近的加拿大人的安全并保护其环境。