Three-dimensional numerical simulation of mud flow from a tailing dam failure across complex terrain

Abstract

Abstract. A tailing dam accident can cause serious ecological disaster and property loss. Simulation of a tailing dam accident in advance is useful for understanding the tailing flow characteristics and assessing the possible extension of the impact area. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3-D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach was proposed for reasonably and quickly predicting the flow routing and impact area of mud flow from a dam failure across 3-D terrain. The Navier–Stokes equations and the Bingham–Papanastasiou rheology model were employed as the governing equations and the constitutive model, respectively, and solved numerically in the finite volume method (FVM) scheme. The volume-of-fluid (VOF) method was used to track the interface between the tailings and air. The accuracy of the CFD model and the chosen numerical algorithm were validated using an analytical solution of the channel flow problem and a laboratory experiment on the dam-break problem reported in the literature. In each issue, the obtained results were very close to the analytical solutions or experimental values. The proposed approach was then applied to simulate two scenarios of tailing dam failures, one of which was the Feijão tailing dam that failed on 25 January 2019, and the simulated routing coincided well with the in situ investigation. Therefore, the proposed approach does well in simulating the flow phenomenon of tailings after a dam break, and the numerical results can be used for early warning of disasters and emergency response.

3D Numerical Modelling of Tailings Dam Breach Run Out Flow over Complex Terrain: A Multidisciplinary Procedure

“…In most reported tailings dam breach cases and studies [27][28][29], the run out tailings flow is normally considered to be the homogeneous mud-water mixture similarly to debris flow at a low concentration of less than 40%. In addition, its rheological behavior is often described as homogeneous non-Newtonian fluid [29][30][31]. The generalized Herschel-Bulkley-Papanastasiou (HBP) model proposed by Papanastasiou [32] is adopted in this study.…”

Modeling the Slump-Type Landslide Tsunamis Part I: Developing a Three-Dimensional Bingham-Type Landslide Model

“…The detailed descriptions are added in Section 5.2. To present the un-yield behavior, µ A is chosen to be infinite based on the suggestions of Assier Rzadkiewicz [34], Taibi [45], and Yu [28]. In this paper, the infinite number of viscosity µ A = 10 10 Pa s is chosen by the sensitivity analysis.…”

“…The slump or tailings fluid is a non-Newtonian fluid in nature [27] with complex rheological properties. The travel distance and the spreading of a slump or a tailings flow are affected by the rheological equation [28]. As for the determination of the rheological parameters, Henriquez [27] determined the yield stress and viscosity of tailings flow by using rheometer and slump tests.…”

“…Field observations of mudflow behavior and rheology are challenging and still rare. Numerical modeling is chosen when an assessment of mudflow behavior is needed for planning, zoning, and hazard assessment [28,[30][31][32]. Most models require direct calibration to capture site-specific behavior.…”

Watch Out for the Tailings Pond, a Sharp Edge Hanging over Our Heads: Lessons Learned and Perceptions from the Brumadinho Tailings Dam Failure Disaster

“…Porsani et al [4] used Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) on an iron mining area after the collapse of the tailings dam I at the Córrego do Feijão Mine in Brumadinho-MG, Brazil to map bodies, structural buildings, and equipment buried in the mud. A numerical simulation is another effective means, which can help us understand the tailing flow characteristics and assess the possible extents of the affected areas [5,6]. With the advance in remote sensing technology, remote sensing has been becoming a more and more important means of information acquisition in disaster investigation [7][8][9][10].…”