| Abstract: | Large-strain consolidation theory has been used as the basis of a computer program for dealing with the problem of consolidation of slurried tailings. The work was carried out in the context of the gold-mining industry in Western Australia, where net annual evaporation rates are high (from about 3 to more than 4m/yr). Therefore, a simple, but effective, method of dealing with evaporation has been included in the model. The paper describes the model, and then uses it with some typical problems to illustrate its versatility and to show the complexity of the behaviour which can occur. |
