Abstract: In order to study the dynamic characteristics and failure law of general tailings reserviors under earthquake action, and explore the method of dam reinforcement, model-based experiments were carried out by using a shaking table. Data on crest acceleration, displacement and deformation were collected by accelerometers, laser displacement sensors,a dynamic data acquisition system and a high speed camera. The results show that there is a “throwing” phenomenon in the two-thirds of dam slope under seismic load,that the acceleration amplification coefficient is not affected significantly by the elevation of the dam, and decreases with the increase of the peak acceleration, that when the input peak acceleration reaches 0.4 g, the tailing reservoir undergoes liquefaction, slipping and cracking, which eventually leads to dam-break,that after the breaking, the mud continuously evolves along the downstream until stagnation, and the accumulation is triangular,and that the tailings reserviors dams' stability can be improved obviously by driving anti-slide piles into the earth at the dam bottoms.

Key words: tailings reservoir, earthquake, dam-break, shaking table, model test, reinforcement