geotechnical engineering centre cricos provider no 00025b the mystery of unsaturated soil mechanics...
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Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B
THE MYSTERY OF UNSATURATED SOIL MECHANICS – SOME MINING
APPLICATIONS
Australian Geomechanics Society, SA & NT Chapter
Monday 15 July 2013, Adeliade
Professor David J WilliamsEmail: [email protected]
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B 2
Overview
Unsaturated soil mechanics continues to play poor relation to saturated soil mechanics
An unsaturated soil at a given density performs better than same soil in a saturated state
• Some mining applications:– Wetting-up and drain down of waste rock dumps– Drain down, desiccation and rewetting of mine tailings– Drain down, desiccation and re-wetting of product coal– Bearing capacity and deformation of mine wastes– Shear strength and compressibility of clay-rich spoil– Performance of geo-covers placed on mine wastes
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INTRODUCTION
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B 4
Key Unsaturated Soil Mechanics Parameters
1. Shear strength:– Or capacity of a soil to support load– Simplistically, shear strength can be tested under
unsaturated conditions (adding “cohesion”)
2. Compressibility:– Or deformation of a soil under an applied load– Simplistically, compressibility can be tested under
unsaturated conditions
3. Permeability (hydraulic conductivity):– Or rate of drainage under an applied load– Assessed by SWCC and ksat testing
INC
RE
AS
ED
DE
CR
EA
SE
DD
EC
RE
AS
ED
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B 5
Mining and Mineral Processing Wastes• Coarse-grained wastes (surface dumps):
– Overburden (typically up to 200 mm) or waste rock (up to 1 m), particularly from surface mining (limited from underground mining)
– Coarse reject (typically 50 mm) from coal processing– Slag or scats (typically 15 mm) from smelting– Spent heap leach material (typically 15 mm)
• Fine-grained wastes (tailings storage facilities):– Crushed and ground tailings (typically silt-size)– Erosion sediments (fines)
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Waste Rock and Coarse Processing Waste Dumps
Waste rock dump
Pumped co-disposal of coal washery wastes
Coarse reject dump
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Tailings Storage Facilities
Metalliferous tailings Iron ore tailings Coal tailings
Red mud Sand mining tailings In-pit coal tailings
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WETTING UP AND DRAIN DOWN OF WASTE ROCK DUMPS
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Impact of Waste Rock Wetting-Up
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
RA
INF
AL
L /
EV
AP
OT
RA
NS
PIR
AT
ION
RAINFALL (mm/year)
Kalgoorlie, WA, average annual rainfall = 250 mm
Net evapotranspirative
Net infiltrative Moistureexcess
Potential impact of waste rock dump wetting-up
Average annual rainfall ~600 mm
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Wetting-Up and Drain Down of Coarse-Grained Wastes
50 min ~60 mm
25 min ~30 mm
80 min ~100 mm
Start-up
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Moisture Profile after 100 mm
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4
HE
IGH
T (m
m)
LENGTH (m)
1%
1%
2%
2%
5%10
1111
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Surface Infiltration into Cadia’s Trial Waste Rock Dump
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Changing Infiltration into Cadia’s Trial Waste Rock Dump with Time
November 2007
May 2006
Note differential settlement-induced ponding
1313
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B 14
Average Base Seepage Beneath Top and Side Slopes of Cadia’s TWRD
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B 15
Trigger Rainfall and Delay for Base Seepage Following Rainfall
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
CUMULATIVE RAINFALL (mm)
TR
IGG
ER
RA
INF
AL
L (
mm
)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
DA
YS
UN
TIL
FL
OW
Flat top lysimeter rainfall trigger
Angle of repose lysimeter rainfall trigger
Flat top lysimeter delay
Angle of repose lysimeter delay
Trend linefor trigger rainfall
Trend linefor delay
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Estimated Wetting-Up and Continuum Breakthrough
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
CO
NT
IN. B
RE
AK
TH
RU
(mm
/yea
r)
YEARS
Assumed rainfall infiltration of 450 mm(equivalent to 1.5 x 10-8 m/s)
January 2010
Possible actualbase seepage
Continuum breakthrough at:~25% saturated for fresh WR
~60% saturated for weathered WR
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Estimated Time to “Continuum Breakthrough” of Waste Rock Dumps
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Ave
rag
e ra
infa
ll (
mm
/yea
r)
Time to continuum breakthrough (years)
Start for 15 m height Full for 15 m heightStart for 30 m height Full for 30 m heightStart for 60 m height Full for 60 m heightStart for 120 m height Full for 120 m height
Increasingrainfall
Increasing time
Increasing dump height
17Typical mine life ~20 years, duringwhich time WRD is likely to be uncovered
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DRAIN DOWN, DESICCATION AND REWETTING OF MINE TAILINGS
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Impact of Tailings Slurry Deposition
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
RA
INF
AL
L /
EV
AP
OT
RA
NS
PIR
AT
ION
RAINFALL (mm/year)
Kalgoorlie, WA, average annual rainfall = 250 mm
Net evapotranspirative
Net infiltrative Moistureexcess
Average annual rainfall ~600 mm
Assuming 0.5 m/year rate of rise at 25% solidsor 1 m/year at 50% solids
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Mt Keith Tailings Laboratory Column Test
Settled tailingsDesiccated tailings
Re-flooded tailings
20
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Comparison of Field and Laboratory SWCC Data for Mt Keith Tailings
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000
GR
AV
. MO
IST
UR
E C
ON
TE
NT
(%
)
MATRIC SUCTION (kPa)
Average lab. re-drying SWCC Average lab. re-wetting SWCC
Field data to 0.2 m depth Field data below 0.2 m depth
Lab. column drying data
Tempe re-drying
Tempe re-wetting
Column dryingand re-drying
Laboratory Regime Field Regime
21
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Comparison Between Field and Laboratory Hydraulic Conductivities
1.0E-22
1.0E-20
1.0E-18
1.0E-16
1.0E-14
1.0E-12
1.0E-10
1.0E-08
1.0E-06
0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000
HY
DR
AU
LIC
CO
ND
UC
TIV
ITY
(m
/s)
MATRIC SUCTION (kPa)
Estimated field function
Average laboratory function
.
22
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Sensors on Towers in Trial TSF Cell
Piezometer
TDR moisture sensor
Matric suction sensor
2323
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Deposition in Trial TSF Cell
24
Desiccated tailingsFinal deposition
Early deposition Further deposition
24
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Suction Data Collected from Northern TowerDeposition over 18 Months
0123456789
101112131415
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600
DAYS
MA
TR
IC S
UC
TIO
N (
kPa)
1 @ 2 2 @ 2 3 @ 2 4 @ 2 5 @ 26 @ 2 7 @ 2 8 @ 2 9 @ 2 10 @ 211 @ 2 12 @ 2 13 @ 2 14 @ 2
Deposition Deposition
25
Matric Suction vs. Time
25
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Suction Data Collected from Northern TowerDeposition from 17 May to 19 July & 26 Oct to 16 Nov 2007
484
484.1
484.2
484.3
484.4
484.5
484.6
484.7
484.8
484.9
485
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
MATRIC SUCTION (kPa)
SE
NS
OR
EL
EV
AT
ION
(R
L m
) 01-Jun-07 15-Jun-07 01-Jul-0715-Jul-07 01-Aug-07 15-Aug-0701-Sep-07 15-Sep-07 01-Oct-0715-Oct-07 01-Nov-07 15-Nov-0701-Dec-07 15-Dec-07 31-Dec-07
4.8 mm on 28 July 0.2 mm on 28 Sept19.6 mm on 12 Dec
26
Matric Suction vs. Depth
26
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DRAIN-DOWN, DESICCATION AND RE-WETTING OF PRODUCT COAL
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B 28
Dewatering and Atmospheric Effects on Product Coal
Coarse Fine Ultra-Fine
Field stockpile
11.5 m
38o
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SWCCs of Product Coal Size Fractions
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000
TO
TAL
MO
IST
UR
E C
ON
TE
NT
(%
)
MATRIC SUCTION (kPa)
Composite - Drying data Composite - Wetting data Composite - Drying curveCoarse - Drying data Coarse - Wetting data Coarse - Drying curveFine - Drying data Fine - Wetting data Fine - Drying curveUltra-fine - Drying data Ultra-fine - Wetting data Ultra-fine - Drying curve
2929
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Duration of Applied Pressure – Centrifuging of Fine Product Coal
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
TO
TAL
MO
IST
UR
E C
ON
TE
NT
(%
)
TIME (hours)
~ 43%
~ 22.5%
50% dewatering
90% dewatering
3.8 min 48 min5-15 s
41 to 42%
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Duration of Applied Pressure – Vacuum Filtration of Ultra-Fine Coal
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
TO
TAL
MO
IST
UR
E C
ON
TE
NT
(%
)
TIME (hours)
~ 42%
~ 31%
1-2 min
35 to 38%50% dewatering
90% dewatering
2.3 min 15 min
3131
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B
Vacuum filtration vs. Briquetting of Ultra-Fine Product Coal
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000
TO
TAL
MO
IST
UR
E C
ON
TE
NT
(%
)
MATRIC SUCTION (kPa)
Filtered ultra-fine - Drying curve
Briquetted ultra-fine - Drying data
Briquetted ultra-fine - Wetting data
3232
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B
Sampling Field Coal Stockpile for PSD and Moisture Content
3333
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Wetting-Up of Model Coal Stockpile
3434
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Stockpile Total Moisture Content Distribution
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
HE
IGH
T (m
)
DISTANCE FROM CENTRELINE (m)
6.3 12.3 12.9 8.5 11.1 11.9 10.0 12.1 9.5 7.4 10.5 12.6 8.2
7.7 8.2 7.7 7.7 7.8 7.8 6.3 7.5 6.0 5.5 3.7
4.7 7.7 7.7 7.5 6.9 7.6 7.2 7.8 3.5
7.0 6.5 6.8 5.3 5.6 3.2
6.7 6.2 5.7 6.1 4.6
12.1 12.1 12.3 11.2 10.5 9.2 5.0
5.5
5% total moisture content contour7.5% total moisture content contour10% total moisture content contour
3535
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B
BEARING CAPACITY AND DEFORMATION OF MINE WASTES
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Tailings Bearing Capacity Issues
1.5 m
“Bow-wave”
4-5 m
Too thin a cover over soft tailings
“Bow-waving” of crusted tailings
37
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B 38
Covering Wet Tailings –Victorian Gold Mine
Surcharging edge of tailings
Spreading thin cover
D6 dozer
Ponded water due to drainageof excess pore water pressure
2-3 m surcharge
1 m cover, avoiding“bow wave” failure
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B 39
Shear Strength Profiles of Coal Tailings
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B 40
Safe Height of Fill on Coal Tailings
H = Nc.sv/F.~5.14.sv/(3 x 18)
~0.095 sv
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SHEAR STRENGTH AND COMPRESSIBILITY OF CLAY-RICH
SPOIL
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Jeebropilly Spoil – Relative Unscalped PSDs
CLAYWeathered
Rock Unweatheredcoarse-grained
Rock Unweatheredfine-grained
Rock
42
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Mt Arthur Spoil – Relative Unscalped PSDs
43
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Gravimetric Moisture Content vs. Matric Suction
Jeebropilly rocky spoil is less dense and wetterthan Hunter Valley spoil, although similar degree
of saturation, and hence matric suction
44
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Jeebropilly Weathered Rock PSDs
45
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Comparison of Direct Shear Friction Angles (-2.36 mm)
0
100
200
300
400
500
0 200 400 600 800 1000
SH
EA
R S
TR
ES
S (
kPa)
NORMAL STRESS (kPa)
Jeebropilly Weathered Rock tested dryJeebropilly Weathered Rock tested wetMt Arthur Sandstone tested dryMt Arthur Sandstone tested wet
c' = 0 kPa, ' ~ 26.6o
c' = 0 kPa, ' ~ 35.6o
c' = 0 kPa, ' ~ 41.5o
c' = 0 kPa, ' ~ 40.7o
46
Note substantial softening on wetting upof clay-rich Jeebropilly Spoil
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UPC 150 mm, 10 MPa Consolidometer
47
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76 & 150 mm Consolidometer Testing of Jeebropilly Weathered Rock
Note low loose density and substantial consolidationon loading and wetting of clay-rich Jeebropilly Spoil
48
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76 & 150 mm Consolidometer Testing of 3-Month Old Mt Arthur Sandstone
Note high loose density and limited consolidationon loading and wetting of Mt Arthur Sandstone
49
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Large Texture Changes on Weathering of Jeebropilly Weathered Rock (-19 mm)
0 days 8 days (32.6 mm rain)
21 days (+6.8 mm rain)15 days (+23.2 mm rain)
50
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Large PSD Changes on Weathering of Jeebropilly Weathered Rock (-19 mm)
51
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Settlement of Jeebropilly Weathered Rock with Time on Weathering (-19 mm)
52
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Minimal Texture Changes on Weathering of Mt Arthur Sandstone (-19 mm)
0 days 7 days (4.0 mm rain) 14 days (+39.2 mm rain)
28 days (+6.8 mm rain)21 days (+47.8 mm rain)
53
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PERFORMANCE OF STORE AND RELEASE COVERS PLACED ON
MINE WASTES
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B 55
Influence of Climate – Natural Recharge (Beekmann et al., 1996)
ARIDSEMIARID Av. rainfall ~600 mmpa
~70 mm~2.2 x 10-9 m/s
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Store and Release Cover on Mine Wastes
5656
Evaporationfrom ponded water
Evapotranspirationfrom vegetated surface
Rainfall
Infiltration and storage
Nominal 0.5 m compacted seal
Minor infiltration
Capillary break over tailingsor trafficked waste rock surface
Limited oxygendiffusion
and infiltration
Angle of repose waste rockor tailings
Seepagealong ~1% slope
Nominal 1 to 2 mloose, rocky soil mulch
Evaporationfrom ponded water
Minor infiltration
Limited oxygendiffusion
and infiltration
Seepagealong ~1% slope
Evaporationfrom ponded water
Evapotranspirationfrom vegetated surface
Rainfall
Infiltration and storage
Nominal 0.5 m compacted seal
Seepagealong slope
Nominal 1 to 2 mloose, rocky soil
Store/releasecover
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B 57
Construction of Store and Release Cover on Kidston’s Waste Rock Dumps
Rocky soil mulch, capable of storingup to 300 mm rainfall/m thickness
Compacted sealing layer
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Vegetation of Kidston’s Store and Release Cover12-month old trees (no
grasses) – December 200218-month old trees & 6-month
old grasses – July 2003
2-year old trees and 1-year old grasses
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
0.5
0.55
Jun-
96
Dec-9
6
Jun-
97
Dec-9
7
Jun-
98
Dec-9
8
Jun-
99
Dec-9
9
Jun-
00
Dec-0
0
Jun-
01
Dec-0
1
Jun-
02
Dec-0
2
Jun-
03
Dec-0
3
Jun-
04
DATE
VO
LU
ME
TR
IC W
AT
ER
CO
NT
EN
T
0.35 0.75 1.37 1.75
Sensor Depths (m)
S ~ 1.0, w ~ 45%
Wet season avS ~ 0.7, w ~ 20%
Dry season minS ~ 0.2, w ~ 5%
Compacted Clayey layer
Rocky soil mulch
0200400600800
Jun-
96
Dec-9
6
Jun-
97
Dec-9
7
Jun-
98
Dec-9
8
Jun-
99
Dec-9
9
Jun-
00
Dec-0
0
Jun-
01
Dec-0
1
Jun-
02
Dec-0
2
Jun-
03
Dec-0
3
Jun-
04
RA
IN (
mm
)
59
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B
0200400600800
Aug-9
7
Sep-9
7
Oct-97
Nov-9
7
Dec-9
7
Jan-
98
Feb-9
8
Mar
-98
Apr-9
8
May
-98
Jun-
98
Jul-9
8
Aug-9
8
RA
IN (
mm
) Total for 97/98 = 623 mm
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
0.5
0.55
Aug-9
7
Sep-9
7
Oct-97
Nov-9
7
Dec-9
7
Jan-
98
Feb-9
8
Mar
-98
Apr-9
8
May
-98
Jun-
98
Jul-9
8
Aug-9
8
DATE
VO
LU
ME
TR
IC W
AT
ER
CO
NT
EN
T
0.35 0.75 1.37 1.75
Sensor Depths (m)
S ~ 1.0, w ~ 45%
Wet season avS ~ 0.7, w ~ 20%
Dry season minS ~ 0.2, w ~ 5%
Compacted Clayey layer
Rocky soil mulch
Up to 2-week lag
k ~2 x 10-8 m/s
60
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B
Kidston – Field SWCC Data and Fitted Curves
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000
MATRIC SUCTION (kPa)
VO
LU
ME
TR
IC W
AT
ER
CO
NT
EN
T
0.35 m depth (field data)0.35 m depth (fitted curve)1.00 m depth (field data)1.00 m depth (fitted curve)1.37 m depth (field data)1.37 m depth (fitted curve)1.77 m depth (field data)1.77 m depth (fitted curve)
Unreliable
61
Desiccatedsurface
Wetsealinglayer
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Store and Release Net Percolation
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
NE
T P
ER
CO
LA
TIO
N(%
cu
mu
lati
ve r
ain
fall
)
AGE (years)
Cadia
Kidston
Mt Whaleback 2 m ROM-av
Mt Whaleback 2 m ROM-peak
Mt Whaleback 4 m ROM
Goldstrike
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Mt Whaleback Store and Release Cover (O’Kane et al, 2012)
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63
Note: No base sealing layer and constructed with
coarse-grained ROM waste rock, i.e. poorly-
constructed
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64
Mt Whaleback Store and Release Cover (O’Kane et al, 2012)
Note: A well-constructed store and release cover
should store ~250 mm/m before percolating
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B 65
Kidston – Schematic Wetting-Up and Drain Down with Time
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
INF
ILT
RA
TIO
N/S
EE
PA
GE
TIME (years)
During operation Post covering
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Rainfall infiltration,diminishing exponentially
as surface compactsand with cover
Base seepage, increasing asdump wets-up, diminishing
exponentially with coverdue to drain down
Final seepage= net percolation
~7 mm/year,on average
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NEW GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING CENTRE AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
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New Geotechnical Engineering Programs @ UQ• Commenced February 2012• Funded by Golder Associates, Rio Tinto,
AngloGold Ashanti and BHP Billiton, in partnership with UQ– Industry Partners each contributing ~$150,000/year– Matching funding from UQ– Total funding of $6 million over 5 years– 3 new academic appointments, making a total of 7:
• Professor of Rock Mechanics (to be appointed)• Lecturer in Rock Mechanics (Dr Nazife Erarslan)• Lecturer in Hydrogeology (offered)
– Plus supporting PostDocs
67
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The GEC Vision• New Civil & Geotechnical Engineering and Mining
& Geotechnical Engineering Dual Major Programs will produce:– Civil and Mining Engineering graduates with a
specialisation in Geotechnical Engineering, unique in Australia! (Canada has 5 or 6 such programs, e.g., making their graduates much sought after by Australian companies)
– Graduates in high demand from Geotechnical and Mining Engineering Consultants, Mining Companies, and Civil and Mining Contractors
– New Programs will have 70-75 graduates/year– Collaborative research with our industry partners
68
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B
Civil & Geotechnical Engineering4-Year Program
2 (6%) Soil MechanicsCourses → 10
(31%) GeotechnicalEngineering Courses
(in Green)
SEM
STAT2201 Analysis of Eng & Sci Data
CIVL2130 Env Issues, Monitoring & Assessment
First Year Elective (or MATH1050, to make up
for MATHS C)
BE Civil & Geotechnical EngineeringFirst Year Elective
(Recommended: ERTH1501 Earth Processes &
Geological Materials for Engineers)
MINE3121 Mining Geomechanics
(Fundamentals of Rock Mechanics ) or ERTH1501
CIVL2360 Reinforced Concrete
Structures
CIVL4270 Geotechnical Investigation
and Testing (New)
ERTH3250 Hydrogeology (New)
1st
Sem
este
r
1ENGG1100
Introduction to Engineering Design
MATH1051 Calculus & Linear Algebra 1
First Year Elective
2nd
Sem
este
r
2ENGG1200
Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving
MATH1052 Multivariate Calculus & ODEs
ENGG1400 Statics & Dynamics
1st
Sem
este
r
3 CIVL2330 Structural Mechanics
MATH2000 Calculus & Linear Algebra II
CIVL2410 Traffic Flow Theory and
Analysis2n
dS
emes
ter
4CIVL2340
Introduction to Structural Design
CIVL2131 Fluid Mechanics
CIVL2210 Fundamentals of Soil
Mechanics
1st
Sem
este
r
5 CIVL3340 Structural Analysis
CIVL3140 Catchment Hydraulics
CIVL3210 Geotechnical Engineering (Applied Soil Mechanics )
2nd
Sem
este
r
6 CIVL3350 Structural Design
CIVL3141 Catchment Hydrology
CIVL3420 Transportation Systems
Engineering
1st
Sem
este
r
7CIVL4511 or CIVL4512
Civil Design
MINE4120 Mine Geotechnical
Engineering (Applied Rock Mechanics)
Geo Elective or Geo Project/Thesis
(CIVL4560 or CIVL4580) or MINE3121
2nd
Sem
este
r
8CIVL4520
Civil Engineering Management
ERTH2004 Structural Geology or
Geo Elective or Geo Project/Thesis
(CIVL4560 or CIVL4580)
CIVL4280 Advanced Rock Mechanics
(New)
EXISTING
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEWNEW
69
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B
Mining & Geotechnical Engineering4-Year Program
5 (15%) MiningGeomechanics
Courses → 12 (38%)Geotechnical
Engineering Courses(in Green)
SEM
STAT2201 Analysis of Eng & Sci Data
MINE2123 Structural Mechanics in Mining
BE Mining & Geotechnical Engineering
1st
Sem
este
r
1ENGG1100
Introduction to Engineering Design
MATH1051 Calculus & Linear Algebra 1(or MATH1050, to make up
for MATHS C)
First Year Elective
ERTH1501 Earth Processes &
Geological Materials for Engineers
First Year Elective (or MATH1052 Multivariate
Calculus & ODEs)
1st
Sem
este
r
3 MINE2105 Introduction to Mining
ERTH2004 Structural Geology2n
dS
emes
ter
4CIVL2210
Fundamentals of Soil Mechanics
MINE2210 Physical & Chemical
Processing of Minerals
MINE2106Resource Geology &
Surveying
MATH2000 Calculus & Linear Algebra II
2nd
Sem
este
r
2ENGG1200
Engineering Modelling and Problem Solving
MATH1052 Multivariate Calculus
& ODEs(or MATH1051 Calculus &
Linear Algebra 1)
ENGG1400 Statics & Dynamics
6 MINE3123 Mine Planning
MINE3123 Mine Ventilation I
MINE3125 Rock Breakage
1st
Sem
este
r
5 MINE3120 Resource Estimation
MINE3121 Mining Geomechanics
(Fundamentals of Rock Mechanics )
MINE3122 Mining Systems
2nd
Sem
este
r1s
tS
emes
ter
7MINE4122
Mining Geomechanics Research Project I
MINE4124 Hard Rock Mine Design &
Feasibility
2nd
Sem
este
r
8MINE4123
Mining Geomechanics Research Project II
MINE4125 Coal Mine Design &
Feasibility
CIVL4270 Geotechnical Investigation
and Testing (New)
MINE2101 Fluid Mechanics
MINE4120 Mine Geotechnical
Engineering (Applied Rock Mechanics)
MINE4121 Mine Management
MINE4128Coal Mine Strata Control
CIVL4280 Advanced Rock Mechanics
(New)
ERTH3250 Hydrogeology (New)
EXISTING
EXISTINGEXISTING
EXISTING
EXISTING
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
70
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B
Expected Geotechnical Engineering Graduations
71
Geotechnical Engineering CentreCRICOS Provider No 00025B
Postgraduate Research Students• PhD students in Geotechnical Engineering:
– Currently 20– > 5 applications pending
• Research topics include:– Mine tailings water cycle– Effectiveness of liners for water storage ponds– Settlement of high coal mine spoil– Flow in coal seams– Behaviour of screw auger piles in clay– Problematic clay-rich coal mine tailings– Mining below the groundwater table– Erosion of granular structures– Computational geomechanics– Development and application of spatial Time Domain Reflectrometry
72