Modelling of dam breach flows; past and future mine tailings dam cases

Title

Modelling of dam breach flows; past and future mine tailings dam cases

 Author

Novell Morell, Mònica (TU Delft Civil Engineering and Geosciences)

Contributor

Vardon, P.J. (mentor) ORCID 0000-0001-5614-6592
Slob, Siefko (mentor)
Storms, J.E.A. (graduation committee) ORCID 0000-0002-8902-8493
Uijttewaal, W.S.J. (graduation committee) ORCID 0000-0002-6043-8026
Busnelli, Marcela (graduation committee)

Degree granting institution

Delft University of Technology

 Programme

Geo-Engineering

 Date

2022-01-25

 Abstract

Tailings storage facilities (TSF) are engineered structures that retain mixed waste material (known as mine tailings material) from mining processes in liquid or slurry form. One of the issues regarding TSF management is the lack of site investigation and sample analyses, which cause the uncertainty of geotechnical properties of mine tailings materials. For a proper operation of tailings storage facilities, the owner should study the material involved and understand the physical and chemical properties associated with it. In case of mine tailings dam failure, the resulting flood wave supposes an environmental, social and economical disaster for society.

Mine tailings dam break studies use numerical models to predict the flooding area and assess the possible damaged area. Historically, these studies were carried out according to Newtonian modelling principles, but the presence of solids within the fluid suggests that the resulting flood wave of a TSF failure should be treated as a non-Newtonian fluid. Absence of laboratory data regarding the geotechnical properties of mine tailings materials make difficult the prediction of such flood wave, since the composition of the mixture is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this research is to study the flow behaviour of mine tailings materials in case of failure of tailings storage facilities. Understanding the flow behaviour of the non-Newtonian fluid is essential to analyse the possible failure event for an existing structure, in order to plan and organise emergency procedures that anticipate and mitigate downstream damages.

 Subject

Tailings storage facilities
Hyper-concentrated sediment fluid
Non-Newtonian Fluids

 To reference this document use:

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8f79272c-c5d8-4288-9086-9f9b4b7b611b

 Part of collection

Student theses

 Document type

master thesis

 Rights

© 2022 Mònica Novell Morell
Files
PDF Thesis_Monica_Novell.pdf 74.3 MB
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