Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental study on discharge impact characteristics induced by piping failure of tailings dam

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To investigate why tailings piping break, identify the mechanisms of tailings dam breaches, and discover how mine tailings flood behave, a large-scale physical model of a tailings reservoir was constructed. The model tailings dam was breached and this breaching test was used to study dam breaching and the resulting tailings flood. The results show that a scour channel is formed in the dam by piping and then the upper portion of the dam collapses and lateral scour occurs. The breach goes through three stages: channel expansion, longitudinal undercutting, and transverse expansion. On the basis of these three stages, seven stages of dam breaching are proposed. The velocity of the tailings flood decreases logarithmically with distance. Three stages of dam breaking that include impact velocity, density, and burial depth are proposed based on a power function impact force model. Tailings flood undercut and erode near the dam and tailings are deposited farther away. The tailings flood direction changes at a bend and erosion occurs along the outer side of the bend while tailings are deposited near the inner side. Suggestions for tailings dam protection are put forward. The above research results provide an experimental and theoretical basis for disaster prevention and mitigation of tailings pond issues.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

References

  • Alemdağ S (2015) Assessment of bearing capacity and permeability of foundation rocks at the Gumustas waste damsite, (NE Turkey) using empirical and numerical analysis. Arab J Geosci 8:1099–1110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alemdağ S, Akaryalı E, Gücer MA (2020) Prediction of mine drainage generation potential and the prevention method in the Gümüşköy (Kütahya) mineralization area, NW-Turkey. J Mt Sci 17(10):2387–2404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alonso EE, Gens A (2006) Aznalcóllar dam failure. Part 1: field observations and material properties. Géotechnique 56(3):165–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aureli F, Dazzi S, Maranzoni A, Mignosa P, Vacondio R (2015) Experimental and numerical evaluation of the force due to the impact of a dam-break wave on a structure. Adv Water Resour 76:29–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De-Xiu R (2012) Simulation of tailings dam failure disaster based on coupled FLOW (2D) and 3D mine. China Safety Sci J 22(8):150–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong L, Deng S, Wang F (2020) Some developments and new insights for environmental sustainability and disaster control of tailings dam. J Clean Prod 122270

  • Edraki M, Baumgartl T, Manlapig E, Bradshaw D, Franks DM, Moran CJ (2014) Designing mine tailings for better environmental, social and economic outcomes: a review of alternative approaches. J Clean Prod 84:411–420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gens A, Alonso EE (2006) Aznalcóllar dam failure. Part 2: stability conditions and failure mechanism. Géotechnique 56(3):185–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gücer MA, Alemdağ S, Akaryalı E (2020) Assessment of acid mine drainage formation using geochemical and static tests in Mutki (Bitlis, SE Turkey) mineralization area. Turk J Earth Sci 29(7):1189–1210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamade T, Mitri H (2013) Reliability-based approach to the geotechnical design of tailings dams. Int J Min Reclam Environ 27(6):377–392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanson GJ, Cook KR, Britton SL (2003) Observed erosion processes during embankment overtopping tests. In 2003 ASAE annual meeting (p. 1). American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers

  • Hassan M, Morris M, Hanson G, Lakhal K (2004) Breach formation: laboratory and numerical modeling of breach formation. Association of State Dam Safety Officials: Dam Safety

  • Jing, Fei X (2012) Research on the movement mechanism of pulp surging from tailings dam-break. Adv Mater Res 516-517:997–1000

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khalid MS (2013) Dynamic analysis of an upstream tailings dam. Msc Civil Engineering with Specialization in Mining and Geotechnical Engineering, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden

  • Kocaman S, Ozmen-Cagatay H (2015) Investigation of dam-break induced shock waves impact on a vertical wall. J Hydrol 525:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lobovský L, Botia-Vera E, Castellana F, Mas-Soler J, Souto-Iglesias A (2014) Experimental investigation of dynamic pressure loads during dam break. J Fluid Struct 48:407–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lumbroso D, McElroy C, Goff C, Collell MR, Petkovsek G, Wetton M (2019) The potential to reduce the risks posed by tailings dams using satellite-based information. Int J Disast Risk Reduct 38:101209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nimbalkar S, Annapareddy VR, Pain A (2018) A simplified approach to assess seismic stability of tailings dams. J Rock Mech Geotech 10(6):1082–1090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiangui Z, Guangzhi Y, Zuoan W, Xiangyu F, Wensong W, Wen N (2015) An experimental study of the mechanical features of layered structures in dam tailings from macroscopic and microscopic points of view. Engin Geol 195:142–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rico M, Benito G, Diez-Herrero A (2008) Floods from tailings dam failures. J Hazard Mater 154(1-3):79–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song L, Yang ZX, Wang H, Wang ZH, Zhang HQ (2012) On the seepage stability of a tailing dam in Wushan copper mine. In: Advanced materials research (vol 594, pp 207-212. Trans Tech Publications Ltd

  • Song D, Ng CWW, Choi CE, Zhou GG, Kwan JS, Koo RCH (2017) Influence of debris flow solid fraction on rigid barrier impact. Can Geotech J 54(10):1421–1434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang G, Kang J, Du C, Tang Y, Kong X (2017) Study on tailings dam over-topping failure model test and break mechanism under the rainfall condition. The Vjesn 24(6)

  • Wu T, Qin J (2018) Experimental study of a tailings impoundment dam failure due to overtopping. Mine Water Environ 37(2):272–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan L, Zhu N, Li S, Chen Y (2016) Three-dimensional numerical modeling study on the failure evolution of tailing dam. J Comput Theor Nanos 13(4):2300–2305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zandarín MT, Oldecop LA, Rodríguez R, Zabala F (2009) The role of capillary water in the stability of tailing dams. Eng Geol 105(1-2):108–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng B, Zhang D, Liu W, Yang Y, Yang H (2019) Use of basalt fiber-reinforced tailings for improving the stability of tailings dam. Materials 12(8):1306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong Q, Chen S, Shan Y (2020) Prediction of the overtopping-induced breach process of the landslide dam. Eng Geol 105709

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the China Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. U19A2049, 51804178), National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2017YFC0804607), and the Doctoral Scientific Research Foundation of Shandong Technology and Business University, China (BS202005). We thank Liwen Bianji, Edanz Editing China (www.liwenbianji.cn/ac), for editing the English text of a draft of this.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100048, China

    Wu Shuaifeng, Cai Hong, Xiao Jianzhang & Yan Jun

  2. School of Management Science and Engineering, Shandong Technology and Business University, 191 Binhai Middle Road, Laishan District, Yantai, 264005, Shandong Province, China

    DU Jifang & Zheng BinBin

  3. School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China

    Liu Chuanpeng

Authors
  1. Wu Shuaifeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cai Hong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiao Jianzhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. DU Jifang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yan Jun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Liu Chuanpeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Zheng BinBin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to DU Jifang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Zeynal Abiddin Erguler

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shuaifeng, W., Hong, C., Jianzhang, X. et al. Experimental study on discharge impact characteristics induced by piping failure of tailings dam. Arab J Geosci 14, 2054 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08156-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08156-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation