Post-liquefaction stability of

thickened tailings a critical state

approach
Franklin R. Olaya, Golder Associates Per S.A.
Jorge A. Chvez , Golder Associates Per S.A.
Jos L. Lara, Golder Associates Per S.A.
 Scope of the paper
It is presented an approach to assess the post-liquefaction physical
stability of thickened tailings slopes, at the design stage, by the study of
the post-earthquake (residual) strength developed by the tailings.

A framework, based on critical state soil mechanics was used following the
Li et. al. (2009) approach for its application to thickened tailings.

Laboratory tests, the modelling stages required, the importance of the

initial void ratio, the deposit consolidation modelling, and the slope
stability modelling are briefly described herein.
 Critical state framework
The critical state is the ultimate state (deformation at constant stress and constant
void ratio) that soils reach when continuously shear stresses are applied, this state
is represented by the critical state line (CSL).

= ln =
Where:
critical void ratio
reference void ratio on CSL at 1kPa
slope of the critical state line

mean effective stress
deviatoric stress
Critical state stress ratio

1 + 2 + 3
=
3
1 , 2 and 3 are the maximum, intermediate, and minimum main stresses.
Critical state framework (Continuation)
Been and Li, 2009 show that the behavior of tailings can be related to the state
parameter which is defined as follow.
= 0

The post-liquefaction strength can be estimated with the following relation,

(Jefferies and Been, 2006).

= exp( )
2
Where:
state parameter
0 initial void ratio
Residual strength

Slope of the Critical State Line ( vs q space)
 Initial void ratio
Thickened tailings are deposited in layers at a very lose state, then drainage
and drying take place; as a result tailings reach a void ratio denominated
initial void ratio at which the next layer of tailings comes and buries the
deposited layer.
In the Peruvian highlands typical values of initial void ratio could range from
0.8 to 1.2 (Golder), and can be estimated from desiccation boxes and column
tests.
 Deposit consolidation
Tailings deposits are built-up by the deposition of subsequent layers of loose
tailings that will undergo large strains as the deposit gradually raises. Because
of that, the consolidation problem for tailings should be assessed taking into
consideration the large strain consolidation theory of Gibson et. al. 1965
instead of the conventional Terzaghis theory.

The following inputs are needed for the deposit consolidation modelling:

Tailings compressibility and permeability functions (tailings properties)

The production rate of tailings
Representative plan areas and heights, these should correspond to the
different raising stages.
Initial void ratio and specific gravity
Tailings properties Laboratory testing
Tailings compressibility and permeability functions
)
Compressibility is presented as a function of the mean effective stress (
while permeability is represented as a function of the void ratio (e).


= 10 ( )

=
Where:

mean effective stress
atmospheric pressure (101.3 kPa)
tailings initial void ratio
permeability in m/s
void ratio
10 , , , fit parameters
 Tailings properties Testing
1.2
interpretation
1.0
Compressibility function corresponding to the
tailings initial void ratio
0.8
Void ratio (e)

3.50E-08
0.6
Permeability tests
3.00E-08 Odometer tests
0.4

Permeability (m/s)
2.50E-08
0.2
Laboratory data fit
odometer test, eo=0.93
2.00E-08
Initial void ratio eo=1.04
0.0
1 10 100 1000 1.50E-08
Vertical stress, v' (kPa)

1.00E-08

Tailings compressibility function

5.00E-09

0.00E+00
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70

Void ratio (e)

Tailings permeability function

 Critical state testing
Critical state testing
The critical state line (CSL) can be constructed from a series of isotropic
consolidated undrained (CIU) and drained triaxial tests (CID).

Undrained tests (CIU) are first performed because the required strains to get the
critical state can be easily reached within the limits of the triaxial equipment
(Jefferies and Been, 2006).

In the drained tests (CID) the sample moves slowly to the critical state while the
void ratio and volume change; these tests are used to confirm the locus of the CSL
because they can reach points of high confining stresses.

It was performed three CIU triaxial tests at the following confining stresses: 100
kPa, 300 kPa, and 600 kPa; with these tests the CSL was roughly defined. The CID
tests were performed to confirm the CSL.
 Critical state testing (CSL plot)
0.85
CIU-Loose_100 KPa
Contractive behavior
0.80 CIU-Loose_300 KPa
CIU-Loose_600 KPa
0.75
CID-Dense_100 KPa
CSL CID-Dense_300 KPa
0.70
CIU tests CID-Dense_600 KPa
0.65 CSL
Void ratio, e

0.60

0.55

0.50

0.45 CID tests

0.40
Dilatant behavior
0.35
10 100 1000 10000
Mean effective stress, p' (kPa)
 Physical stability assessment
From the consolidation void ratio profile and the CSL, we will be able to calculate
the state parameter as a function of depth ( = 0 ). With state parameter
known, the residual strength can be easily derived: = 2 exp( ) (also a

function of depth).

As the residual strength of tailings is a function of depth, the factor of safety will
also be affected by the depth of the failure surface analyzed (an infinite slope due
to the flat geometry of tailings slopes). The factor of safety of the post-earthquake
analysis can be calculated using the relation proposed by Li et. al., 2009.

=

Where:
h Failure surface depth (m)
Tailings unit weight (N/m3)
Sr Tailings residual strength (N/m2)
Tailings beach slope (rad)
 Application Case
One tailings deposit where the methodology was applied has the following
characteristic:
An average beach slope between 2% and 3%
The deposit is 105 m high
Eight raising stages evaluated
Tailings specific gravity of 2.8 and, initial void ratio of 1.04
Deposit consolidation modelling void
ratio profiles
Void Ratio, e
0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.00 1.05
0.00
Stage 1
10.00 Stage 2
Stage 3
20.00
Stage 4
30.00 Stage 5
Stage 6
40.00
Depth (m)

Stage 7
Stage 8
50.00

60.00

70.00

80.00

90.00

100.00

110.00
 Application Case (State parameter and
residual strength ratio)
Sate parameter, Residual strength ratio - Depth ratio, Sr/'v
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.000 0.040 0.080 0.120 0.160 0.200 0.240 0.280 0.320
0.00 0.00
Stage 1
10.00 10.00
Stage 2
20.00 20.00 Stage 3
Stage 4
30.00 30.00 Stage 5
Stage 6
40.00 40.00 Stage 7

Depth (m)
Depth (m)

50.00 Stage 8
50.00

60.00 60.00
Stage 1
70.00 Stage 2 70.00
Stage 3
80.00 80.00
Stage 4
Stage 5
90.00 90.00
Stage 6
100.00 Stage 7 100.00
Stage 8
110.00 110.00
 Application Case (slope stability)
Factor of Safety- Beach Slope of 2 % Factor of Safety- Beach Slope of 3 %

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0
0.00 0.00
Stage 1 Stage 1
10.00 Stage 2 10.00 Stage 2
Stage 3 Stage 3
20.00 stage 4 20.00 stage 4
Sateg 5 Sateg 5
30.00 Stage 6 30.00 Stage 6
Stage 7 Stage 7
40.00 Stage 8 40.00 Stage 8

Depth (m)
Depth (m)

50.00 50.00

60.00 60.00

70.00 70.00

80.00 80.00

90.00 90.00

100.00 100.00

110.00 110.00
 Conclusion
The design of high tailings deposits requires a sensible stability analysis of
the tailings slope which might consider the post-liquefaction scenario.

The methodology presented permits to perform sensitivity analyses of the

factor of safety versus the beach slope. The objective is to ensure the long
term tailings deposit beach slope.

Especial consideration should be given to the initial void ratio of deposited

tailings as this parameter defines the tailings in-situ estate, affecting
directly the residual strength ratio and thus the physical stability.