Interaction characteristics of geosynthetics with fine tailings in pullout test

摘要

ABSTRACT: New mining technologies not only exploit lower-grade ores but also produce a muchnhigher volume of tailings as mining waste. The disposal of these tailings is a challenge for minenoperators. A tailings dam is usually constructed to store these wastes safely. The dam continuouslynincreases its height and changes geometry with the disposal of tailings, which is different fromnconventional dams. Therefore the stability of tailings dams is a challenge. Geosynthetics have beennwidely used as reinforcement in retaining walls and embankments, but their applicability to thenconstruction of tailings dams has not previously been studied. Their applicability depends largelynon the interaction between geosynthetics and fine tailings. In this paper, the interaction ofngeosynthetics (geobelt and geogrid) with fine copper ore tailings is studied through laboratorynpullout tests. The test results reveal that the interaction characteristics are influenced by tailingsnparticle size, density, moisture content, and vertical load. It is found that the maximum frictionncoefficient between geosynthetics and the fine tailings is less than 0.22, which is lower than thenpublished data for natural soils.