Predictive stress–strain analysis of tailings dams from 3D FEM-based model

The tailings dam stability at mineral processing facilities is a challenging problem in the mining industry. The volume of liquid concentration waste in tailings ponds grows annually, and the static and dynamic impact of the waste on the dam increases greatly, which induces fast deformation processes in the dam body. The article describes the predictive stress–strain analysis of tailings dams using 3D finite element modeling. The presented FEM-based modeling algorithm and solution provide an a priori estimate and prediction of the tailings dam stability. The study used the surveying data on the stability of the tailings dam at the copper concentration plant of Almalyk MMC, the current observations and predictions of geomechanical processes in the dam body, and the stress state modeling of the dam bottom. An integrated method of mathematical modeling of the dam behavior was used, and the theoretical results were compared with the actual surveying data. The epures and graphs of the behavior of normal stresses and strains were plotted, and the FEM-based predictive stress–strain analysis was carried out for the highest (64 m) slope of the tailings dam spread out for 360 m as an elastic solid.

Sajjidkosimov S. S., Raimdzhanov B. R., Umarov F. Ya., Rahimova M. H. Predictive stress–strain analysis of tailings dams from 3D FEM-based model. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2023;(9):38-55. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2023_9_0_38.

The study was carried out within the framework of the research plan of the Tashkent State Technical University, Topic: Dam Behavior Assessment at the Joint Tailings Pond of Copper Concentration Mill 2 Using Geological, Geophysical and Surveying Data, Agreement No. 63-4082yur dated 22 September 2020.

S.S. Sajjidkosimov¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, e-mail: SAYYIDJABBAR@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5954-2790,
B.R. Raimdzhanov², Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, e-mail: afnitumisis@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0395-1181,
F.Ya. Umarov², Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Director, e-mail: farkhodbek.umarov@yandex.ru,
M.H. Rahimova¹, Doctoral Student, e-mail: muxlisa.xasanovna@gmail.com, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1539-4191,
¹ Tashkent State Technical University, 100095, Tashkent, Uzbekistan,
² Almalyk branch of National University of Science and Technology «MISiS», 110105, Almalyk, Uzbekistan.

M.H. Rahimova, e-mail: muxlisa.xasanovna@gmail.com.

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