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Coupled Modeling of Temperature Distribution and Evolution in Cemented Tailings Backfill Structures that Contain Mineral Admixtures

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Abstract

Cemented paste backfill (CPB, a mixture of tailings, water and binder) is widely utilized to fill underground mine voids. To achieve a good, economical performance, one approach is to proportionally use mineral admixtures such as fly ash and slag as partial substitutes for Portland cement. Binder hydration is one of the most significant factors that can generate heat within hydrating CPB structures, which in turn, influences the mechanical and hydraulic properties of CPB, as well as the pore structure within CPB. However, the temperature evolution due to the hydration of Portland cement that contains fly ash or slag is different from that of hydration with solely Portland cement. Hence, in consideration of the heat generated by both binder hydration and transferred between CPB and its surrounding media, a numerical model is developed to predict and determine the temperature development within CPB that contains mineral admixtures. After that, data from field and laboratory studies are employed to validate the developed model. The validation results demonstrate a good consistency between the model and the field and laboratory studies. Consequently, the proposed model is applied to simulate and determine the temperature evolution with time via mineral admixtures, binder content, initial rock and CPB temperatures, stope geometry, backfilling rate, curing time and backfilling strategy. The obtained results will contribute to better designs and preparation of CPB mixtures, as well as predict the temperature distribution within CPB structures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Canada, 161 Colonel by, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada

    Di Wu & Mamadou Fall

  2. Department of Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China

    Di Wu & Si-jing Cai

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  1. Di Wu
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  2. Mamadou Fall
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  3. Si-jing Cai
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Correspondence to Mamadou Fall.

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Wu, D., Fall, M. & Cai, Sj. Coupled Modeling of Temperature Distribution and Evolution in Cemented Tailings Backfill Structures that Contain Mineral Admixtures. Geotech Geol Eng 30, 935–961 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-012-9518-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-012-9518-1

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