Mechanical Behaviour of the Interface Between Cemented Tailings Backfill and Retaining Structures Under Shear Loads

• Published in: Geotechnical and geological engineering Vol. 28; no. 6; pp. 779 - 790
• Main Authors: Fall, M., Nasir, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-11-2010; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Backfill; Backfilling; Bulkheads; Cementing; Civil Engineering; Curing; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Hydrogeology; Interfacial properties; Mechanical properties; Mine tailings; Original Paper; Properties; Retaining walls; Shear; Shear stiffness; Shear tests; Structures; Tailings; Terrestrial Pollution; Time dependence; Waste Management/Waste Technology; Barricade; Cemented paste backfill; Bulkhead; Cement; Shear strength; Concrete; Tailings; Interface
• ISSN: 0960-3182; 1573-1529
• DOI: 10.1007/s10706-010-9338-0

Understanding the shear behaviour of the interface between cemented tailings backfill and retaining wall structures (barricades, bulkheads) is important for the optimal design of barricades or bulkheads, and for mine operators to balance strength and safety against cost. However, our understanding of the shear behaviour of the aforementioned interface is limited. This paper is aimed at investigating the interfacial behaviour and properties of cemented tailings backfill-retaining wall structures, including stress–strain behaviour, cohesion, friction angle and shear stiffness through direct shear tests. Two different types of barricade or bulkhead materials (brick and concrete) are used in this study. Interface shear tests are performed at various curing times of the cemented backfill. Valuable results are obtained with regards to the interface shear behaviour of backfill-retaining structures. Based on these results, interfacial properties between cemented tailings backfill and barricades or bulkheads show a significant time-dependent variation.