Author(s): Herman Musumari Siaben; Rubens Augusto Amaro Junior; Liang-Yee Cheng; Ahmad Shakibaeinia

Linked Author(s): Ahmad Shakibaeinia

Keywords: Tailings dam runout; Explicitly Represented Polygons (ERP); WC-MPS method; Particle-based method; Non-Newtonian rheology

Abstract: Fully Lagrangian methods such as the moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) have proven better performance over the traditional mesh-based methods in handling highly dynamic flows with large deformations such as those witnessed at the occurrence of tailings dam breaches. Nevertheless, their applications to large-scale simulations are rare. Among the limited attempts, flows rheology is often lumped to simple Newtonian fluids and the inefficiency in representing real terrains complexity jeopardizes the accuracy and reliability of the numerical results. In the present study, we developed a three-dimensional weakly compressible MPS model to simulate the post-failure stage of tailings dams and the resulting overland flows (inundation mapping and flow information). The model adopts and enhances the explicitly represented polygons boundaries (ERP) to represent the real topography in lieu of the traditional ghost particles which due to their high memory consumption have restricted the scope of fully Lagrangian methods to small-scale problems. We adopted for the tailings material's response the Bingham plastic and Herschel-Bulkley rheologies. Finally, the developed model was applied to simulate the Brumadinho tailings dam failure which occurred in 2019 in Brazil. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the newly developed model in representing such three-dimensional dynamic flows and open a door for fully Lagrangian methods to serve as practical tools in emergency preparedness and disaster mitigation.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/978-90-833476-1-5_iahr40wc-p0240-cd

Year: 2023