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Safety Assessment of Dam Failure of Tailings Pond Based on Variable Weight Method: A Case Study in China

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Abstract

When assessing the safety of a tailings dam, the constant weight method (CWM) is one of the most commonly used methods. However, when the evaluation indicator value suggests serious defects, the evaluation value is often inconsistent with the actual situation. To address this issue, the variable weight method (VWM) is introduced to assess the safety of the tailings dam. Initially, a three-layer indicator system for dam failure safety assessment is built, and individual indicator values are divided into four grades. Then, an appropriate state variable weight function is constructed and relevant parameters are determined. Finally, a case study is illustrated to verify the effectiveness of the model. The assessment results of the VWM more closely represent the actual situation than that of the CWM, which is more helpful for decision makers and technicians to take scientific and reasonable precautionary measures, thereby improving the safety management of the tailings pond.

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Funding

This research was funded by the Chinese National Key Research and Development Program under grant number 2017YFC0804605.

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  1. School of Civil and Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Congcong Chen & Bo Ma

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Chen, C., Ma, B. Safety Assessment of Dam Failure of Tailings Pond Based on Variable Weight Method: A Case Study in China. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 39, 2401–2413 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-022-00686-x

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