Comportamento hidromecânico de rejeito filtrado de minério de ferro

Abstract

Mining waste is one the biggest problem in this sector one of the biggest problems generated by the sector, and is commonly deposited in the form of dams. The generation of waste in the mining sector is one of the industry's biggest challenges, as much of this waste is commonly deposited in dams, which over the years have posed significant risks to the environment and human life. The ban on upstream dams, imposed by new legislation, highlights the need for safe alternatives for tailings disposal.The research focuses on the stacking of filtered tailings as a promising solution. For this, various factors are investigated, such as cohesion, friction angle, and water content, which affect the stability of these piles. The hydromechanical behavior of filtered iron ore tailings was analyzed in three different stacking models with foundations of clay and sand, using Plaxis 2D software to simulate stresses, deformations, and displacements. Amid the growing concern about tailings management, especially after severe dam accidents that caused environmental and social damage, numerical modeling was employed to simulate different scenarios, allowing a detailed analysis of the behavior of the tailings under variable conditions. The results highlighted the importance of calibrating constitutive models and the influence of mechanical, hydraulic, and pore pressure variables on pile performance. The results showed that piles up to 150 meters high, under the studied conditions, are not viable without adjustments to the foundations and parameters. Models with reinforced foundations showed greater stability but were still limited to heights of up to 120 meters. The data discussion underscores the relevance of engineering practices that ensure long-term safety and sustainability in tailings management.