Who: Dr. Roberto Santos, Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil
When: Friday March 8 at 10:00AM
Where: PKI 164, KH A512, Zoom ID: 99424352380
Abstract:
The hydraulic conductivity of iron tailings is an important factor affecting the stability of tailings storage facilities. Stacking compacted filtered ore tailings is a promising alternative for safer tailings disposal. These tailings storage facilities' internal drainage systems must be designed appropriately to avoid excessive seepage pressure, saturation, and slope failure. In this context, the factors that affect hydraulic conductivity must be adequately evaluated. Therefore, the hydraulic conductivity behavior of compacted iron ore tailings still needs to be investigated. In addition, the effect of high confining pressure on hydraulic conductivity needs to be evaluated. This presentation will touch on the investigation of the impact of the initial compaction and the confining pressure on hydraulic conductivity. Results from flexible wall permeameter tests on filtered ore tailings compacted in three degrees of compaction will be presented. Specimens were saturated and then consolidated with different confining pressure. The data suggest that hydraulic conductivity's decay rate depends on initial compaction the hydraulic conductivity of the loose specimen decays at a greater rate than that of the dense specimens. However, the reductions of the void ratio under the confining pressure of 1600 kPa and 2200 kPa were not enough to decrease the hydraulic conductivity. Thus, under high-stress confining, the hydraulic conductivity becomes practically constant.
Bio:
Roberto Aguiar dos Santos, an Assistant Professor at the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil, specializes in Geotechnics and Mining. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Brasilia University, he is also a Visiting Researcher at The University of Western Australia, focusing on tailings liquefaction and soil dynamics. His research seeks to advance innovative and sustainable practices in mining geotechnics.