Conceptual design of tailings dam and stability assessment

Abstract

This work aims to present and discuss a conceptual project of mining tailings dam. Therefore, specific topics on tailings dams are visited and the characterization of materials constituting such structure is reviewed in the literature. Based on parameters available in the literature, a hypothetical dam was schematized and its stability was assessed via computational analysis (limit equilibrium and finite element flow analysis). Assessing eventual design changes (additional dam heightening) and hypothetical situations (collapses in the internal drainage), it is concluded that the schematic conceptual design presents itself viable and stable given the proposed geometry and the properties of materials considered. The importance of the internal drainage system for the dam´s stability was also identified.

Keywords

• tailings dam
• conceptual design
• stability analysis