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.