Fractal character of lenticles and its influence on sediment state in tailings dam

The distribution of tailings lenticles reflects the sediment state of tailing dam, and has a great influence on the stability of the dam. In order to disclose the distribution law of tailings lenticles in theory, 12 geological cross-sections, including 7 cross-sections of tailings dam constructed by the upstream method and 5 cross-sections by the middle line method, were analyzed with box dimension method. The results show that the distribution of tailings lenticles has better fractal character with box dimension from 1.290 7 to 1.513 6. The box dimension of the tailings dam constructed by upstream method is nearly 1.50 and that by middle line method is 1.30. Thereby the values of lenticles dimension have obvious relation to the method of constructing dam, and reflect the sediment state of tailings dam with the rule that smaller value means better state.

Effect of the lenticles on moisture migration in capillary zone of tailings dam

Small-particle interlayers(lenticles)show some characteristic hydraulic properties and can affect the movement of unsaturated water.In this study,we developed a novel online capillary-water-absorption monitoring device and conducted three groups of comparison tests to simulate lenticle positions and thicknesses with respect to the capillary rise.The results show that the characteristic wetting front exhibits a fast rise in the early stage,a slow rise in the middle stage,and stability in the later stage.The motion of the capillary water in the lenticle is mainly transversal,with the upward curve being"flat,"and the longer is"flat,"the longer is the time needed for the water to move.The interlayer can form a capillary stagnation zone with moisture content close to saturation.The high interlayer may form a discontinuous corrugated capillary zone.Thus,when the wetting front reaches the"coarse-grain(lower)-fine-grain(upper)"interface,the"anti-capillary barrier effect"results in more moisture in the upper layer.Thus,when the wetting front of the capillary water reaches the"fine-grain(upper)-coarse-grain(lower)"interface,the"capillary barrier effect"causes the moisture content of the upper tailings to decreases sharply because of the horizontal movement of the water in the fine medium.It is clear that the presence of lenticles can retard the rise of capillary water by storing water.