Author(s): Runze Miao; Deyu Zhong; Hongwu Zhang; Jie Qin
Linked Author(s): Jie Qin
Keywords: Tailings dam; Retrogressive erosion; Prediction model; Volume of dam failure
Abstract: Tailings dam is a man-made potential source of debris flow which will cause a disaster once the dam being broken. This rate and amount of tailings released directly impact the hazard to life and property downstream of a breached tailings dam. This paper proposed a prediction approach of volume of tailings dam failure for a retrogressive erosion process of cohesive deposits due to overtopping. The flow pattern in dam crest changed from the laminar flow to turbulent flow which caused a large number of tailings erosion---the main source of the failure amount. The formula is validated bythe physical models of tailings dams in two stages in China. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the formula. Its effectiveness of and applicability to simulate the process of tailings dam-break, the process of the change of failure volume of tailings dam, and erosion depthat dam crest, were exhibited. This paper analyzes the mechanics of the key factors affecting the retrogressive erosion of tailings dam-break, and points out the technical problems and solutions relating to the improvement of the accuracy and adequacy of the formula.
Year: 2013