Investigation of Hydrological Behaviour of In Situ Bauxite Residue for Closure and Rehabilitation Design

Amoah, Nelson; Phillips, John; Vlahos, Stephen

doi:10.36487/acg_repo/605_36

Cited by 1 publication

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“…Although thin, these layers can have a disproportionate effect on the seepage regime (Chang et al 2011). For example, Amoah et al (2006) found that layer void ratio ( ) and hydraulic conductivity ( ) varied significantly depending on deposition environment, due to summer drying. In particular, varied by an order of magnitude between the upper cracked layers and the underlying tailings body.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Centrifuge modelling of drawdown seepage in tailings storage facilities

Beckett

Fourie

2016

Proceedings of the International Conference on Mine Closure

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Uncertainties surrounding seepage behaviour are a key issue raised in tailings storage facility (TSF) operation. Poor seepage management can result in negative environmental impacts, costly remediation or even embankment failure and, in the context of mine closure, long term liabilities and/or legacy site issues. In particular, recovery pumping rates must be maintained for sufficient time to capture seepage both during operation and after closure during reservoir drawdown. Seepage analyses for TSF design commonly assume isotropic or, at best, anisotropic homogeneous material properties. However, layering during deposition, consolidation and swelling on drying and wetting create a seepage environment far more complex than these assumptions suggest. Improved modelling is required to increase analysis confidence. Centrifuge modelling allows geotechnical phenomena to be investigated using scale models under representative stress conditions. However, precious few examples exist for seepage modelling using this technique. This paper briefly discusses modelling equipment development for use with The University of Western Australia (UWA) beam geotechnical centrifuge. Results for seepage during reservoir drawdown, simulating facility closure, are then presented for a layered, heterogeneous embankment model, as compared to predictions made by commercial analysis software. Findings are used to comment on the implication of simplifying analysis assumptions on drawdown time and flowrate calculations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%