Comparison of In Situ Field Test and Laboratory Test Results for Assessment of Static and Seismic Liquefaction Susceptibility of a Tailings Dam
Publication: Forensic Engineering 2022
ABSTRACT
A tailings dam is typically an earth-fill containing embankment/facility used to store the materials left over after the process of separating the valuable fraction from the uneconomic fraction of an ore. In designing a tailings dam, Cone Penetration Tests (CPTs) are being increasingly used to assess soil behaviour and the potential/susceptibility of the material to liquefaction. This paper presents CPT data interpreted by two Geologismiki software packages (CPeT-IT and CLiq) compared with interpreted laboratory test results from intact samples at specific depths and locations from a gold mining operation. Results from Consolidated Anisotropic Undrained (CAU) triaxial tests, Consolidated Isotropic Undrained (CIU) triaxial tests, and Cyclic Simple Shear (CSS) tests were compared with CPT interpreted results in terms of static and seismic liquefaction potential and soil behaviours. The results showed that the CPT interpreted results were around 10% higher than laboratory test results and were more conservative. However, the soil behaviour as defined by the compared methods was similar. This paper provides recommendations for suitable testing for designers to use in assessing liquefaction potential.
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Forensic Engineering 2022
Pages: 206 - 220
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Published online: Nov 2, 2022
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