Physical Modeling of Tailings Dams Using Centrifuge Simulation Techniques

摘要

The development of the phreatic surface in a stable tailings dam is investigated by using centrifuge simulation techniques and analytical techniques. The centrifuge simulations, conducted on an 8 m (25 ft) radius machine, uses a modeling-of-models approach to determine the effects of scaling and model construction on the development of the phreatic surface. The analytical and numerical techniques include predictions of the effects of scaling on the development of the phreatic surface, determination of the location of the steady-state phreatic surface in a full scale prototype dam, and determination of the stability of a prototype dam in terms of the conventional factor-of-safety. While these analyses indicate that there should be no scaling effect on the steady-state phreatic surface, tests run at over 100 g scaling show a rise in the phreatic surface with increasing g load. Numerical predictions of the steady-state phreatic surface compare well with data taken below 100 g scaling. (ERA citation 07:060797)