Liquefaction potential of sand tailings dams evaluated using a probabilistic interpretation of estimated in-situ relative density

Authors

  • Gabriel Villavicencio A. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Chile). Escuela de Ingeniería en Construcción
  • Pierre Breul Clermont Université. Université Blaise Pascal. Institut Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand (France).
  • Claude Bacconnet Clermont Université. Université Blaise Pascal. Institut Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand (France).
  • Andy Fourie University of Western Australia, Environmental and Mining Engineering, School of Civil School of Civil (Australia).
  • Raúl Espinace A. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Chile). Escuela de Ingeniería en Construcción.

Keywords:

cone penetrometer test, relative density, liquefaction, sand tailings dams

Abstract

In Chile, sand tailings dams represent the most common deposits of mining residues. These structures present a potential risk in terms of
mechanical instability due to their potential susceptibility to seismic liquefaction. In order to manage these risks, it is necessary to take a
probabilistic approach, thus accounting for inherent variability of material properties. However, in practice, implementing such an approach is
impeded by the difficulty of acquiring and managing the data to be used in the reliability calculations and is conditioned by the relevance of the
probabilistic models chosen to represent this variability. This paper proposes a method for onsite determination of the tailings relative density
(DR%), and its variability, using dynamic penetration tests. This method was applied to typical Chilean sand tailings dams, and proposes a single
model for all such tailings dams by associating a probability model to the variation of DR%. Finally, the validity of this approach is demonstrated by
performing a reliability calculation of liquefaction potential (which is the main cause for the failure of this type of structure in this country) for a
particular sands tailing dam.

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Published

2016-08-31

How to Cite

Villavicencio A., G., Breul, P., Bacconnet, C., Fourie, A., & Espinace A., R. (2016). Liquefaction potential of sand tailings dams evaluated using a probabilistic interpretation of estimated in-situ relative density. Revista De La Construcción. Journal of Construction, 15(2), 9–18. Retrieved from https://revistahistoria.uc.cl/index.php/RDLC/article/view/12724