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Numerical Simulation of Tailings Flow from Dam Failure over Complex Terrain
Yi Yang1,2, Xiaowen Zhou1,2, Xiaoyu Chen1
1School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 25, 2022
Summary
Tailings dam failures pose significant risks. This study models tailings flow as a non-Newtonian fluid using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), finding mitigation measures like check dams and vegetation can reduce hazards.
Area of Science:
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Tailings dam failures have severe environmental and social consequences.
- The complex interactions in tailings flows (water, tailings, ground) differ significantly from flood flows.
- Understanding tailings flow mechanisms is crucial for hazard mitigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model tailings flow behavior using non-Newtonian fluid dynamics.
- To simulate tailings flow characteristics over complex terrain using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).
- To assess the effectiveness of hazard mitigation strategies for tailings dam failures.
Main Methods:
- Characterizing tailings flow rheology using Bingham model parameters derived from rheological tests.
- Employing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to simulate non-Newtonian fluid flow over varied topography.
- Validating the CFD model against experimental data from literature on non-Newtonian dam-break flows.
Main Results:
- The study analyzed key flow characteristics: velocity, runout distance, inundation area, and depth.
- Simulations for the Dagangding tailings dam indicated no impact on the downstream railway and village under conservative conditions.
- Both check dams and vegetation (grasses and trees) were identified as effective measures for mitigating tailings flow damage.
Conclusions:
- The CFD approach, treating tailings flow as a Bingham fluid, provides a reliable method for analyzing flow characteristics.
- Hazard mitigation strategies, including structural (check dams) and nature-based solutions (vegetation), can significantly reduce the impact of tailings flows.
- Proactive implementation of these measures is essential for safeguarding communities and ecosystems from tailings dam failure risks.
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