Spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of tailings flow under different dam failure modes of tailings dams

doi:10.16265/j.cnki.issn1003-3033.2026.06.1253

Abstract

Abstract:

To address the requirements for tailings dam risk assessment and monitoring/early warning in downstream disaster-prone areas, this study analyzes the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of tailings flow under different dam-break modes, taking a gold mine tailings dam in Mangshi as the object.A three-dimensional geological-unit coupled model was established, and a heavy-rainfall-induced flood overtopping failure scenario was designed. Three typical breach-width modes, namely 178, 89, and 20 m, were selected to simulate the velocity distribution, discharge variation, deposition depth, inundation extent, and impact-force propagation process of tailings flow, thereby evaluating the hazard degree and risk evolution characteristics of downstream area. The results show that the dynamic evolution of the tailings flow exhibits three stages: initial acceleration, expansion development and energy attenuation. Breach width significantly affects the velocity, discharge, and inundation extent of the tailings flow. A larger breach releases greater kinetic energy, affects a wider area, and results in more pronounced discharge variation. When the breach width is 178 m, the discharge reaches a maximum of 1 925.31 m³/s. Under different breach modes, the spatial distribution of impact force varies. Smaller breach exerts stronger local impact on key downstream areas, and the impact force decreases with increasing distance from the dam. At a breach width of 89 m, the maximum impact force of tailings flow reaches 18 kN/m at 300 m from the dam toe, and decreases to 5 kN/m at 600 m. The buried depth and inundation extent of the tailings flow gradually decrease along the main flow direction, and the flow influence weakens farther away from the dam. Under heavy-rainfall-induced overtopping failure, the disaster hazard degree of tailings flow is jointly controlled by breach width, discharged kinetic energy, propagation distance, and topographic constraints. The risk evolution is characterized by high flow velocity, strong impact force and high buried hazard in the near-dam area, while the hazard degree of middle and far downstream areas gradually decreases with energy dissipation.

Key words: tailings dam, tailings flow, dam-break mode, breach width, impact force

CLC Number:

X936

Jia Huimin, Tian Sen, Li Yongxin, Ge Zhaolong, Si Hu. Spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of tailings flow under different dam failure modes of tailings dams[J]. China Safety Science Journal, 2026, 36(6): 127-133.

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层级	初始干密度 p₁(kg/m³)	渗透系数 K_e/(cm/s)	饱和密度 ρ_e/(kg/m³)	体积模量 B/MPa	剪切模量 G/MPa	内摩擦角 Φ/(°)	黏聚力 C/kPa
初始坝体	2 230	7.31×10^-3	2 450	2 550.00	5 100.00	45.00	540.00
基岩	2 500	6.50×10^-7	2 500	8 300.00	4 500.00	43.00	480.00
尾细砂	1 620	3.35×10^-4	1 790	21.56	5.43	35.81	10.50
尾粉砂	1 900	8.75×10^-4	1 970	29.96	6.25	34.78	11.80
尾粉土	1 994	4.98×10^-5	2 140	23.65	5.69	32.51	14.78

分层	粒径/mm	临界希尔兹系数	挟带系数(默认值)	推移质系数(默认值)	休止角(默认值)
尾细砂	0.11	0.052	0.018	8	32
尾粉砂	0.04	0.019	0.018	8	32
尾粉土	0.03	0.013	0.018	8	32