Application of geogrids in waste dump stability: a numerical modeling approach

Geosynthetic is widely used to reinforce the weak rock mass, mine waste dump, soil slopes road cut slopes, etc. The present paper discusses the effect of geogrids on the stability of mine waste dump. The stability of mine waste dump has been done by Fast Langrage Analysis of Continua (FLAC) slope software, which is based on finite difference method. Reinforcement by geogrids mainly depends on the tensile strength, aperture size of geogrids, and particle size distribution of dump rock mass. Different permutations and combinations of spacing between two geogrid sheets have been taken into consideration to study the stability of mine waste dump. The factor of safety is calculated to quantify the effect of geogrids on waste dump slope. It has been observed from numerical modeling that the maximum slope angle is 45° at a height of 10 m. The scope of increasing slope angle from 45 to 60° is evaluated using geogrids. It has been found from the study that the factor of safety increases as the spacing between geogrids decreases. Maximum strain is also plotted of each case to identify the slip circle. The positions of geogrids modify the probable slip circle or failure plane of mine waste dump. Using ten geogrids at a spacing of 1 m, the slope angle can be increased up to 60° with factor of safety of 1.4.     

宽级配废石的高排土场稳定性研究

宽级配废石的一坡到底的高台阶排土场具有明显的粒径分级特征,传统稳定性分析方法将其简化为多层各向同性的均质土体,却实质性忽略了排土场粗粒土各粒组分布的不均匀性和随机性,导致难以获得其边坡稳定性的合理结论。依托江西某铜矿高台阶排土场,借助自编元胞自动机程序EPOHHM,采用5组窄级配粗粒土表征了高台阶排土场的粒径分级现象,模拟了各粒组散体分布的不均匀性和随机性,分析了不同工况下排土场的位移场及塑性状态,系统地探讨了不同堆排模式下排土场边坡的安全稳定性,提出了一种宽级配废石的高台阶排土场稳定性的精细化分析方法。研究结果表明,排土场发生“拉-剪”破坏;土体中上部有圆弧形滑坡趋势,下部变形表现为沉降,顶部平台产生拉剪裂缝。仅考虑散体力学强度时,底部粗颗粒（ 100 mm）含量的增加对排土场起显著的稳固作用,“单台阶全段高”的堆排模式比“全覆盖式多台阶”更有利于宽级配废石的高排土场安全稳定。研究成果将为保证明显粒径分级的排土场的长期安全稳定提供指导,也为今后分析此类工程问题提供借鉴。     

Quantification of stability improvement of a dump through biological reclamation

An integrated study on biological stabilisation of a dump slope has indicated that biological reclamation with grass and tree species should be considered for long term stability of this coal mine dump in India. The grasses have greater soil binding capacity and help to control soil erosion and improve dump stability. Native grasses such as Bamboo (Dendrocalmus strictus) and Kashi (Saccharum spontaneum) are the important constituents of grass species which can stabilise the dump slopes. Field observation of growth performance of grasses have indicated that mean grass height, root depth and below-ground root biomass are 185 cm (±68), 45 cm (±5) and 467 g m^–2 (±170), respectively after three years of grass growth on Mudidih overburden dump slope in India. The growth performance of tree species, namely Sisum (Dalbergia sisoo) and Subabool (Leucena lecocephala), in terms of height, diameter increment, below-ground biomass and root depth have shown mean values of 219 cm (±94), 48 mm (±6), 4.0 kg m^–2 (±1.5) and 1 m (±0.1), respectively. This acts as biological fertility which helps in root proliferation and enhancement of dump stability. From the numerical modelling it is suggested that roots of these grass and tree species have significantly enhanced the factor of safety of dump from 1.4 to 1.8 and therefore have a positive role in maintaining long term stability.     

高寒矿区草本植物根系增强排土场边坡土体抗剪强度试验研究

为研究草本植物根系对增强高寒地区露天煤矿排土场边坡土体抗剪强度的贡献以及相关因素对边坡土体抗剪强度的影响,以青海境内祁连山北缘江仓露天煤矿排土场为试验区,在排土场边坡组合种植垂穗披碱草(Elymus nutans Griseb.)和冷地早熟禾(Poa pratensis L.)2种草本植物,在边坡3个不同位置处分别制取不含根系素土和根-土复合体试样进行直剪试验,探讨土体物理力学性质以及植物根系数量与根-土复合体抗剪强度之间的关系。结果表明:（1）随着边坡海拔升高,坡面浅层素土和根-土复合体试样的密度和砂粒含量呈显著增加,含水率、粉粒和黏粒含量显著降低;（2）与边坡素土试样抗剪强度相比,坡底、坡中和坡顶位置处根-土复合体抗剪强度增幅分别为4.09%、18.92%和0.69%;（3）在素土和根-土复合体试样中,含水率与黏聚力之间呈显著负相关关系,相关系数分别为-0.943和-0.969;土体中砂粒含量与内摩擦角之间呈显著正相关关系,相关系数分别为0.940和0.926;（4）坡底至坡顶位置处根-土复合体的黏聚力与素土相比,增幅分别为29.23%,54.40%,26.45%。     

Effects of monsoonal rainfall on waste dump stability and respective geo-environmental issues: a case study

The stability of mine waste dumps is of critical importance and an issue, the mining industry of Goa, India is continually facing. The State of Goa receives high rainfall of around 3,000 mm annually. This heavy monsoonal rainfall is often believed to be the cause of dump slope instability. In light of several dump collapses encountered in the State and their damaging effects on both mine operations and local geo-environmental conditions, this paper examines their stability considering various geotechnical factors and the downstream environmental effects of a slope failure. The mechanical properties of dump waste material are reported at different compaction levels. The effect of these properties and changes in pore-water pressure are specifically examined using limit equilibrium analysis. An empirical formula is developed relating dump height, material mechanical parameters and pore-water pressure to the factor of safety of the slope. It was found that the level of compaction experienced by the material had a significant effect on the factor of safety.     

Shear strength analysis of grouted coal waste materials to improve mine outslope stability: a laboratory analysis

Summary Slope stability problems exist within the Appalachian Basin as a result of the emplacement of coal mine waste materials on mine outslopes. Prevention or elimination of slope instability problems can be costly. In an attempt to test alternative methods of slope stabilization, the United States Bureau of Mines determined some physical characteristics and shear strengths of ungrouted and polyurethenegrouted samples of coal refuse, coal spoil and natural soils collected at a number of mine outslope sites in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The particle size distribution, per cent field porosity, per cent field water content and shear strengths of the materials were determined in the laboratory. Fifty drained direct shear strength tests were performed with the sample materials using a 0.06 m³ shear box. Tests were done at field moisture, 100% saturation and grout-infused conditions. Normal loads of 103 kN m^–2, 206 kN m^–2 and 416 kN m^–2 were used. The grout-infused tests generally showed strength increases. An infinite slope model was used to demonstrate the potential effectiveness ofin situ grouting for a variety of field slope conditions. This modelling suggests thatin situ grouting has the potential of stabilizing slopes of up to 35° at depths of 14 m for refuse material and 30° at depths of 5 m for spoil and soil materials. The validity of these increases in material strength by grout injection will require field testing for confirmation.     

Mine Overburden Dump Failure: A Case Study

In any open cast mine, the management of stripped spoil during mining is crucial to the mine’s successful operation. The improper management of the overburden (OB) dump can result in stability issues which may affect safety and production of the mine. Various literatures have reported the failure of open pit dumps and the consequences in loss of life, production and impact on neighbouring amenities. Recently, the failure of an out-of-pit OB dump at an Indian Colliery was reported. The failed OB dump displaced spoil approximately 70 m from the original location of the dump toe and impacted on neighbouring amenities. This paper back analyse material properties and investigates the probable mechanism of this OB failure. Well established tools including limiting equilibrium and continuum numerical methods have been used to understand and identify the failure kinematics of this dump. It has been found that the residual friction angle of the material comprising the dump structural unit dominates stability. Mobilisation of residual strength can occur by operational induced strains and/or the presence of water. The shear strength of the foundation was fully mobilised and provided a slip surface for the overlying dump material. The resultant failure is manifest as a bilinear wedge movement of two ridged blocks defined by linear rupture planes.     

粗粒料强度准则与排土场稳定性研究

排土场稳定性主要取决于排土场的坡角及排弃废石的内部强度。通过低压到高压的三轴压缩试验研究了千枚岩粗颗粒散体材料强度的特性及压力对其强度的影响。试验表明：粗颗粒材料的破碎率随着压力的增大而增加,而增加速率则随着压力的增大而减小,并给出了一个用于描述压力及破碎率的关系式。提出了考虑破碎对强度影响的强度准则,该准则能描述粗颗粒材料的强度随压力的变化情况。采用该强度准则分析排土场的稳定性,其结果更加接近实际情况。而采用摩尔-库仑强度准则计算得到的排土场稳定性安全系数偏大,存在安全隐患。建议采用本文提出的强度准则分析排土场稳定性,特别是对于超高排土场的稳定性分析,更加适用该强度准则。     

元宝山露天煤矿3~#排土场工程地质条件与稳定性分析预测

在分析矿区地形地貌、地层岩性、水文地质条件和影响排土场稳定因素的基础上,结合区内2#排场的监测资料,采用FLAC3D模拟软件和刚体极限平衡法中的毕肖普条分法,对排土场边坡变形、破坏的主要影响因素进行了分析,揭示了其滑坡机理;对3#排土场的稳定性做出预测,认为排土场边坡变形破坏模式是上部排弃物沿圆弧滑面剪切滑移与下部沿粉土、粉质粘土平面滑移的圆弧—平面组合滑移形式;基底土层的内摩擦角对排土场允许排高较为敏感,是决定允许排高的内在因素,基底粉质粘土的极限承载力是决定排土场允许排高的外在因素;基底土体极限承载力所决定的排土场的允许排高为90.60～91.60m。提出了填沟压脚、降低第一排台阶高度和基底排水等措施来满足排土场边坡稳定的要求。     

Sensitivity Analysis of Internal Dragline Dump stability: Finite Element Analysis

The stability of mine waste dump is of paramount importance from economic and safety point of view. The present paper deals with the stability analysis of an internal dragline dump of an opencast coal mine by finite element method to classify input parameters in terms of sensitivity. Sensitivity analysis has been carried out for geometrical and geotechnical parameters of dump slope. It has been concluded from the results that ??friction angle?? is a more sensitive parameter as compared to the cohesion of dump material. The geometrical parameters of ??slope angle?? and ??height of dragline dump?? are classified as very high sensitive. The ??height of main dump?? could be classified as least sensitive, whereas, ??gradient of the seam?? and ??thickness of coal rib?? as medium sensitive parameters.     

Research on the stabilization treatment of clay slope topsoil by organic polymer soil stabilizer

The topsoil of clayey slope is easy to erosion because it is weak in its strength, water stability and erosion resistance. A new organic polymer soil stabilizer, which was developed for the stabilization treatment of clay slope topsoil and was named as STW, was introduced in this study. In order to understand the effect of STW on the stabilization of clayey soil, laboratory tests on the unconfined compressive strength, shear strength, water stability and erosion resistance of untreated and treated soil specimens are performed, The results indicated that STW soil stabilizer can significantly increased the unconfined compression strength, shear strength, water stability and erosion resistance of clayey soil. The unconfined compression strength increased with the increasing of curing time and the variation mainly occurs in the first 24-hour. With the addition amounts of STW increasing, the strength, water stability and erosion resistance increased at the curing time being 48 h, but in the case of friction angle, no major change was observed. Based on the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the stabilized soil, the stabilization mechanisms of STW soil stabilizer in the clayey soil were discussed. Finally, a field test of the stabilization treatment of clay slope topsoil with STW was carried out, and the results indicated that the STW soil stabilizer on the stabilization treatment of clay slope topsoil is effective for improving the erosion resistance of slope topsoil, reducing the soil loss and protecting the vegetation growth. Therefore, this technique is worth popularizing for the topsoil protection of clay slope.     

The 2015 Shenzhen catastrophic landslide in a construction waste dump: analyses of undrained strength and slope stability

The 2015 catastrophic landslide in a 110-m-high waste dump in Shenzhen is recognized as one of the largest landfill failure worldwide. An earlier comprehensive field investigation revealed that the dominant component of the fill was completely decomposed granite (CDG), and the dumping operation was accompanied by a rise of the groundwater level. In this paper, the complex stress paths for the initially unsaturated fill materials being subjected to both rapid filling and wetting were investigated. A simplified method was proposed for estimating the gain of undrained shear strength under the complex stress paths. Soil samples were taken from the site to a laboratory to measure the undrained shear strength and validate the estimation method. Total stress-based stability analyses were carried out to calculate the factor of safety of the dump at failure. The triggering mechanism of the landslide is clarified as follows: The gain of shear strength with the surcharge loading for the wet layer in the lower part of the waste dump was limited by a build-up of excess pore-water pressure. The gain of shear strength for the relatively dry fill material was attenuated with the rise of groundwater level. When the shear strength was not enough to resist the increasing slip force with the surcharge loading, a deep-seated translational failure took place in the lower wet layer of the waste dump. The proposed method for analyses of undrained strength and slope stability are proven to be applicable to the waste-dumping operation with rapid filling and rising groundwater level.

     

Limit analysis of the stability of slopes reinforced with anchors

An approach based on the category of upper bound theorem of limit analysis is proposed in this article to consider the reinforcing effect of one row of anchors on slope stabilization. The shear strength reduction technique is used in the determination of the safety factor of the slope. The effect of anchor reinforcement is assumed to be an external axial force applied on the slope, and in the formulas of kinematic limit analysis, the work rate done by the anchor can be calculated. So, the stability analysis can be conducted without any assumptions on the acting position and decomposition of the axial force of anchors. Results were compared with those obtained using both the limit equilibrium method and numerical method. A parametric study was carried out to illustrate the effect of anchor orientation and position on slope stabilization. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

高寒矿区软弱基底排土场边坡稳定性数值模拟

为研究青藏高原东北部高寒地区冻融条件下,软弱基底露天煤矿排土场边坡变形破坏模式和边坡极限堆载高度,本文以青海天峻祁连山北缘江仓露天煤矿排土场作为试验区,采用二维有限元法模拟分析了5种不同堆载高度工况下排土场边坡变形破坏模式,基于折减系数法确定排土场边坡安全系数和稳定性评价。分析结果表明:在容许堆载高度范围内,随着排土场边坡堆载高度的增加,排土场边坡位移量表现出显著增长的变化趋势,其水平方向与垂直方向最大位移量分别为1. 631 m和6. 320 m,当超过容许堆载高度范围,排土场边坡位移量发生突变,呈显著性降低的变化趋势,其位移量降低幅度为64. 27%～102. 32%;塑性变形区表现出沿排土场边坡承载基底位置处的草甸型软弱界面,向排土场边坡坡底位置扩展;剪应力在坡底位置处出现应力集中现象,且剪应力集中范围由边坡承载基底向上、向坡体内部扩展且呈连通趋势,其结果形成后缘拉裂、前缘剪切滑移的整体边坡变形破坏模式;排土场边坡安全系数随着堆载高度的增加表现出二次函数降低(R~2=0. 9896)的变化规律,当排土场边坡高度为65 m时,则达到边坡设计容许高度,且其安全系数为1. 25。本次研究所得到的排土场承载由草甸构成的软弱基底在坡底位置处的变形结果,与野外试验区边坡堆载作用下所形成的实际情况基本吻合。研究结果可为高寒矿区排土场边坡变形破坏科学防治,提高边坡稳定性研究,提供理论支撑依据和实际指导意义。     

Dump slope stability analysis – A case study

In opencast mining operation, the stability of waste materials stands at high priority from the safety and economic perspective. Poor management of overburden (OB) dump results the instability of slope in an opencast mine. The present paper deals with the stability analysis of dump material of an opencast coal mine at Talcher coal field, Angul district, Odisha, by means of different geotechnical parameters and mineralogical composition affecting the dump slope. The prolonged rainfall in the mining area causes dump failure and loss of valuable life and property. A recent dump failure that occurred in 2013 at Basundhara mines of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), Odisha, took 14 lives, and created problems for the mining industry. Most of the dump failure that occurs in the study area are mainly due to increase in pore water pressure as a result of rainfall infiltration. The stability of the waste dump was investigated using the limit equilibrium analysis to suggest an economical, sustainable and safe disposal of the dump in the study area.     

高寒矿区排土场边坡土体抗剪强度特征

为研究高寒矿区排土场边坡草本植物根-土复合体抗剪强度特征及其影响因素,以青藏高原东北部天骏木里煤田江仓矿区排土场为研究区,对组合种植垂穗披碱草（Elymus nutans Griseb.）和冷地早熟禾（Poa crymophila Keng）的排土场边坡,测得边坡地表以下不同深度根-土复合体密度、含水率和含根量等指标,通过室内直剪试验获得素土和复合体黏聚力c和内摩擦角φ;采用灰色关联法得到密度、含水率和含根量与抗剪强度指标c和φ间的关联度。试验结果表明:排土场边坡相同取样点位置和层位,根-土复合体密度和含水率均小于素土,且第二层（地表以下10~20 cm）根-土复合体含根量显著小于第一层（地表以下0~10 cm）,第二层含根量较第一层平均降低幅度为31.66%;此外,根-土复合体c值较素土大,第一层和第二层根-土复合体c值较素土其平均增加幅度为32.69%、13.42%,两者的φ值则未表现出显著性变化规律;根-土复合体抗剪强度指标c和φ与密度关联度相对较高,与含水率关联度次之,与含根量关联度相对较小。研究结果对高寒矿区采用种植植物方式开展排土场边坡生态恢复,科学有效地防治坡面水土流失、浅层滑坡等地质灾害,具有一定的理论研究价值和实际指导意义。      

Debris slope stability analysis using three-dimensional finite element method based on maximum shear stress theory

How to evaluate debris slope stability reasonably is yet an urgent problem. The paper presents an applied method evaluating debris slope stability, using three-dimensional (3D) finite element contact algorithm based on the maximum shear stress theory. The Guanjia debris slope is located between K9 + 940 and K10 + 200 of Longli First-class Highway in Zhejiang, China. On its left slope, some cracks appeared at the end of 2002 and these were immediately backfilled, overlying a plastic membrane. However, many new cracks appeared on the slope during the rainfall in April 2003. Meanwhile, some small collapses and springs occurred in the front of the slope, and many cracks appeared on the middle part. The stability of the Guanjia debris slope was analyzed using the method proposed in the paper, the strength reduction finite element method, the imbalance thrust force method, Fellenius method, Janbu simplified method, Spencer’s method, Morgenstern–Price method and generalized limit equilibrium (GLE) method. The results show that: (1) the safety factors of the debris slope obtained using the imbalance thrust force method is the minimum in all limit equilibrium methods; (2) 1.07 and 1.06 are the safety factors of Section CC′ and DD′ (the middle part of this slope) of the Guanjia debris slope obtained using the method proposed (FEM with shear strength reduction technique based on the maximum shear stress theory) in this study, respectively, which reflect the slope actual condition in critical failure status; (3) the method proposed in this study may take into account the spatial effect of the debris slope, which makes the results of slope stability analysis more reasonable and reliable than other methods that can be used as a reference for the evaluation of stability of the same type of debris slope; and (3) further study should be done to confirm whether the proposed method in this study is suitable for other types of slopes.     

Sensitivity Analysis of Coal Rib Stability for Internal Mine Dump in Opencast Mine by Finite Element Modelling

The present paper discusses the impact of the geometrical parameters of the coal rib and the mine dump on the stability of the coal rib. The geometrical parameters such as the slope angle, the height of dragline dump, the height of main dump, the gradient of seam and the thickness of coal rib have been considered as input to the numerical model for the stability analysis of the coal rib. Sensitivity analysis has been performed based on the results of the analysis in term of factor of safety of the coal rib. The input parameters have been classified in terms of significance (i.e. very high significance, high significance medium significance and low significance). The factor of safety is more influenced by highly significant parameters. The height and the slope angle of dragline dump and the thickness of the coal rib are highly significant parameters for the stability of the coal rib. The gradient of the seam is a medium significant parameter whereas, height of main dump and the number of dragline cut dump are low significant parameters for stability of coal rib.     

Large scale failure of the external waste dump at the “South Field” lignite mine, Northern Greece

This paper presents the failure process of the external waste dump of the South Field Mine, the major open pit mine in Greece. The waste materials of the mine were deposited in three phases, forming an average inclination slope 10% and a total height of 110 m from the ground surface. The failure occurred when the third phase of the deposit was initiated. The high moisture content of the waste materials and their deposition over a spring, choking its flow, had as a result the development of high pore water pressure in clayey and marly materials in the base of the deposit. As a consequence, a large scale slope failure incident occurred. The landslide involved the mobilization of waste material in the order of 40 Mm³, while the material that moved outside the boundaries of the waste dump was in the order of 2.5 Mm³. The stability of the waste dump was investigated using the limit equilibrium analysis and different types of models.Limit equilibrium analyses were performed using different methods and considering the clay layer of small shear resistance that exists in the base of the deposit. They do not indicate activation of failure mechanism, only that there is a combination of high pore water pressure that developed in the deposit because the covering of the spring with the clayey materials of the dump.     

Mineralogical and geochemical spatial analyses of a waste-rock dump at the Libiola Fe–Cu sulphide mine (Eastern Liguria,Italy)

In this work, we investigated a 3 ha sulphide-bearing waste-rock dump (Libiola Mine, Italy) using mineralogical, geochemical, and geostatistical analyses. The dumped materials were highly heterogeneous in grain size and lithology and varied both laterally and vertically. Other than the host rock of the ore, basalts and serpentinites, the dumped materials contained high amounts of low-grade chalcopyrite- and pyrite-rich mineralisations. Due to these characteristics and to the absence of minerals able to neutralise acidity, this waste-rock dump can be classified as an acid mine drainage (AMD) producer. The study confirms that AMD is still active and, in the best scenario, can persist for up to 6.17 × 10³ years. The consequences of this process are of serious environmental concern as it involves strong acidification of the circulating waters, the release of potentially toxic metals into the soil, streams and rivers and the precipitation of huge quantities of secondary Fe-oxides and Fe-oxyhydroxides.