Seismic Performance of a Tailings Dam Located in Hight Seismicity Area

Bellido N.G.; Aguilar Z. · ASEAN Journal of Science and Engineering (2024) · DOI: 10.17509/ajse.v4i3.75557

Resumen

The seismic behavior of tailings dams is significantly influenced by the response of stored mine tailings to cyclic loading. Given recent global failures of tailings storage facilities (TSFs), understanding the mechanical properties of various mine tailings is crucial for enhancing dam safety. This study presents a seismic evaluation of a polymetallic tailings dam situated in a region of high seismicity. Nonlinear deformation analyses (NDAs) were conducted using advanced constitutive models: PM4Silt (designed to simulate the behavior of clay and plastic silts under cyclic loading, with an emphasis on excess pore pressure generation) and UBCHyst (developed to model soils that do not generate excess pore pressure during cyclic loading). Both models were implemented using the FLAC finite difference software. The geotechnical characterization of the tailings was based on static and cyclic laboratory tests performed on remolded samples. In line with South American standards, seven-time histories were developed to simulate the maximum credible earthquake (MCE) for the dynamic analyses. Results from the NDAs showed that deformation patterns at the dam crest after the earthquake were heavily affected by the characteristics of the mine tailings. This study underscores the necessity of employing a variety of design ground motions to accurately assess the dynamic response of tailings dams.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería