A numerical investigation on hydro-mechanical behaviour of a high centreline tailings dam

The high rate of failure in tailings dams reflects the inadequacy of conventional stability and seepage analyses for evaluating their performance, especially during construction. In this article, the hydro-mechanical behaviour of a high centreline tailings dam during staged construction is evaluated by coupled stress-pore pressure analyses. The effects of factors such as foundation permeability, raising rate, anisotropic permeability of slimes and changes in the slope of dykes on the structural response are investigated. In these analyses, a combination of realistic conditions, including saturated-unsaturated seepage of materials, consolidation and loading due to staged construction are simulated using SIGMA/W software. The results of this study indicate that foundation permeability and anisotropic permeability of slimes have a significant influence on development of pore pressure in impoundment, while changing the downstream slope of dykes causes substantial displacements.