Assessment of Large-Strain Consolidation and Shear Strength of Saturated/Unsaturated Fluid Fine Tailings

Bereket Fisseha, G. Ward Wilson, Delwyn G. Fredlund

In the proceedings of: GeoOttawa 2017: 70th Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 12th joint with IAH-CNC

Session: Mining - Oil Sands II

ABSTRACT: Large-strain consolidation properties and shear strength gain of flocculated fluid fine tailings (FFT) have been investigated in a laboratory using newly developed column apparatus and vane shear measuring equipment. The column apparatus with applied suction enables the characterization of FFT and generates constitutive surfaces using independent variables (normal stress and suction) and void ratio. The column apparatus supplemented with a vane shear device provides FFT properties in terms of undrained shear strength, total stress and suction. The measured data provide a basis to establish constitutive relations of deposited FFT in relation to the stressstrain state. Furthermore, these properties are used in versatile numerical models that can analyze and calculate the saturated and unsaturated properties of FFT deposits.

RÉSUMÉ: Les propriétés de consolidation à grande déformation et le gain en résistance au cisaillement des résidus fins et fluides scissomètre récemment développés. L'essai en colonne avec application de succion permet une caractérisation des RFF et génère des surfaces constitutives à l'aide de variables indépendantes (contrainte normale et succion) et de n termes de résistance au cisaillement non-drainée, de contrainte totale et de succion. Les données mesurées fournissent une base pour établir des relations constitutives des RFF déposés par rapport à l'état contrainte-déformation. En outre, ces propriétés sont utilisées dans des modèles numériques qui peuvent analyser et prédire les propriétés saturées et non-saturées des dépôts des RFF.

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Cite this article:
Bereket Fisseha; G. Ward Wilson; Delwyn G. Fredlund (2017) Assessment of Large-Strain Consolidation and Shear Strength of Saturated/Unsaturated Fluid Fine Tailings in GEO2017. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.

@article{geo2017Paper842,author = Bereket Fisseha; G. Ward Wilson; Delwyn G. Fredlund,title = Assessment of Large-Strain Consolidation and Shear Strength of Saturated/Unsaturated Fluid Fine Tailings,year = 2017}