Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2025

Parameterizing V-notch Weir Equations for Flow Monitoring in a Drainage Control Structure
Published on: April 25, 2025
A practical tool for tailings dam breach analysis - numerical modelling of hydraulic erosion and discharge of
1WSP Canada Inc., Canada.
Abstract:
An advanced and practical numerical simulation method for use in a two-process tailings dam breach analysis is presented. The approach analyzed tailings hydraulic erosion followed by discharge of flowable tailings incorporating geotechnical, rheological, hydrodynamic and erodibility considerations relevant to their distinct discharge mechanisms. Aspects of the two processes include Process-I hydraulic erosion modelling discharge of a supernatant pond carrying eroded tailings and dam fills; where the outflow mixture was treated as a non-Newtonian fluid with variation of solids concentrations spatially and temporally while considering time-dependent eroded tailings surface and breach geometry formation. Then Process-II modelling from tailings mobilization to inundation integrates tailings deposit properties and other site-specific conditions, employing principles of critical state soil mechanics for tailings mobilization modelling. Numerical modelling of the hydraulic erosion process using MADflow was carried out and the results are shown to agree with flume experimental measurements which validate the approach. Numerical modelling results of the discharge of flowable tailings using the same software were comparable to two tailings dam failure case histories to calibrate this approach. The numerical modelling presented rationalizes tailings breach outflow volume and rate of outflow and provides potential extent of inundation and other key parameters for flood-induced overtopping followed by a collapse failure mode, facilitating a reasonable evaluation of the tailings mobility during inundation to support the subsequent assessment of downstream impacts.
Related Concept Videos
Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway
Typical Model Studies
Rapidly Varying Flow
Underflow Gates
Design Example: Design of an Irrigation Channel
Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment

