A simulation experiment device for instability and dam break of tailings pond under continuous rainstorm condition

Abstract

The application discloses a simulation experiment device for tailing pond instability dam break under continuous rainstorm conditions, which comprises a water supply device, a rainfall device, a rainwater recovery device, a reservoir area simulation device, a downstream terrain simulation device and a monitoring device. The rainfall device and the rainwater recovery device are connected with the reservoir area simulation device to realize the simulation of spatial and temporal distribution unevenness of reservoir area rainfall and the estimation of rainfall. The reservoir area simulation device is connected with the downstream terrain simulation device to realize the simulation of gap increase caused by rainwater scouring fine particles and the simulation of the influence of tailing pond dam break on the downstream under different height differences and terrain conditions. The monitoring device realizes image and data recording in the whole process of dam break. The application can flexibly simulate different degrees of natural rainfall at different positions above the tailing pond model, mix salt with tailing particles and simulate different terrains and landforms in the downstream, ensures the rationality of rainwater seepage process, improves the reliability of the test, and reduces the cost and operation difficulty of the downstream terrain simulation of the tailing pond.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mining geotechnical engineering technology, specifically to a simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and collapse under continuous rainstorm conditions. Background Technology

[0002] Tailings dams, as critical facilities in the mining production chain, are crucial to the safety of mining enterprises, directly impacting not only their production efficiency and economic returns but also the lives and property of people downstream. Currently, my country's mineral resource development remains at a high level, resulting in a massive annual tailings production. Tailings dams are numerous and widely distributed. Despite years of targeted rectification efforts, some tailings dams still have room for improvement in the sophistication of their safety management. Tailings dam failures pose extremely serious risks, triggering widespread water pollution, desertification, and other ecological disasters. They cause long-term damage to regional geological structures and ecological balance, ultimately affecting social harmony and stability as well as sustainable economic development.

[0003] Research on the instability state of tailings dams is of irreplaceable importance. Currently, in the field of mining geotechnical engineering, the analysis methods for tailings dam stability include field exploration, which requires enormous manpower, material resources, and financial resources, resulting in extremely high implementation costs; while numerical simulation methods can provide theoretical analysis of the dam body, the results deviate from reality due to the need to pre-set numerous boundary conditions and numerical parameters. Indoor dam experiments, however, can simulate the actual instability process of the dam body in a controlled environment, providing accurate and reliable data support for tailings dam stability analysis. Currently, simulation devices for tailings dam experiments under heavy rainfall conditions are not yet mature and cannot adequately reflect the impact of rainfall intensity and other factors on dam stability. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and failure under continuous rainstorm conditions. This experimental device can conduct relevant model dam experiments indoors and can simulate the dam experiment with a high degree of fit according to the specific natural environment on site.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0006] A simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and failure under continuous rainstorm conditions includes a reservoir area simulation device, a downstream terrain simulation device, a rainfall device, and a rainwater harvesting device.

[0007] The reservoir area simulation device includes a reservoir area simulation test box, which has an open end on its side wall. The reservoir area simulation test box contains a later dam body, and a rainfall device is installed directly above the reservoir area simulation test box.

[0008] The rainfall device includes a support frame, on which n water supply branch pipes are laid, n≥1, and m nozzles are installed on the water supply branch pipes, m≥1; the water supply branch pipes are connected to the water supply device.

[0009] The reservoir area simulation test chamber is equipped with rainwater harvesting devices on all four sides to collect rainwater that overflows from the chamber.

[0010] The downstream terrain simulation device includes a downstream terrain simulation experimental box, which has an open end on its side wall and a horizontal pin-carved base inside the downstream terrain simulation experimental box.

[0011] The open ends of the reservoir area simulation test box and the downstream terrain simulation test box are connected by inclined plates.

[0012] As a preferred option, the inner layer of the later dam body is made of salt-bearing tailings, and the outer layer is made of simulated iron ore tailings sand.

[0013] Preferably, the nozzle is a universal nozzle, which includes a flat tee pipe and three 90° bends. The bends are connected by a rotatable external pipe structure to achieve 360° horizontal rotation and 0-90° vertical pitch adjustment to meet the simulation requirements of different rainfall angles.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment, the rainwater harvesting device includes a push-pull telescopic bracket, a waterproof sheet, a funnel, and a water tank; the water tank is equipped with water level markings.

[0015] The waterproof cloth is in the shape of a hollow cylinder. The fixed end of the push-pull telescopic bracket is connected to the side wall of the warehouse simulation test box, the telescopic end of the push-pull telescopic bracket is connected to the outer edge of the waterproof cloth, and the inner edge of the waterproof cloth is connected to the side wall of the warehouse simulation test box.

[0016] The bottom of the waterproof cloth is connected to the return water pipe, which is equipped with a funnel and is connected to the water tank.

[0017] As a preferred option, the inner wall of the downstream terrain simulation test chamber and the horizontal needle-carved base are both covered with waterproof geomembrane.

[0018] Preferably, the water supply device includes a water pump and a water supply pipe;

[0019] The water pump's inlet is connected to the water tank, and the water pump's outlet is connected to the water supply branch pipe via a water supply pipe. A stop valve is installed on the water supply pipe.

[0020] As a preferred option, both the reservoir area simulation test chamber and the downstream terrain simulation test chamber are equipped with retractable support columns at the bottom for height adjustment.

[0021] Preferably, a monitoring device is also included, which includes a high-speed camera and a laser 3D scanner;

[0022] Two high-speed cameras are installed: one is mounted next to the reservoir area simulation device via a telescopic bracket, and the other is mounted next to the downstream terrain simulation device via a telescopic bracket.

[0023] Two laser 3D scanners are provided, each positioned next to a high-speed camera.

[0024] Preferably, the reservoir area simulation test box, the downstream terrain simulation test box, and the inclined plate are all made of 304 stainless steel; the two ends of the inclined plate are respectively hinged to the open ends of the reservoir area simulation test box and the downstream terrain simulation test box.

[0025] As a preferred option, the needle body in the horizontal needle carving base is made of stainless steel, and its height is independently controlled by the bottom adjustment mechanism. Both the needle hole and the surface of the needle body are provided with hemispherical regular protrusions to limit the descent of the needle body.

[0026] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0027] 1. This application connects both the rainfall device and the rainwater harvesting device to the reservoir area simulation device, enabling the simulation of uneven spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall in the reservoir area and the estimation of rainfall volume. The reservoir area simulation device is connected to the downstream topographic simulation device to simulate how rainwater erodes fine particles, increasing porosity, and to simulate the impact of tailings dam failure on downstream areas under different elevation differences and topographic conditions. The monitoring device records images and data of the entire dam failure process. This application can flexibly simulate different levels of natural rainfall, the mixing of salt and tailings particles, and different downstream topographic features at different locations above the tailings dam model, ensuring the rationality of the rainwater infiltration process, improving the reliability of the experiment, and reducing the cost and operational difficulty of simulating the downstream topographic features of the tailings dam. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the experimental device for simulating tailings dam instability and collapse under continuous rainstorm conditions, as per the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the Wanxiang nozzle structure, which is the experimental device for simulating tailings dam instability and collapse under continuous rainstorm conditions according to the present invention.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the rainwater collection device used in the experimental setup of this invention to simulate tailings dam instability and collapse under continuous heavy rain conditions.

[0031] In the picture:

[0032] 1-Retractable support column, 2-Reservoir area simulation test box, 3-Downstream terrain simulation test box, 4-Inclined plate, 5-Water tank, 6-Water pump, 7-Stop valve, 8-Water supply pipe, 9-Support bracket, 10-Universal nozzle, 11-Main water supply pipe, 12-Flat tee connector, 13-Water supply branch pipe, 14-Push-pull telescopic bracket, 15-Waterproof cloth, 16-Function funnel, 17-Simulated iron ore tailings sand, 18-Salt-containing tailings sand, 19-Horizontal needle-carved base, 20-Waterproof geomembrane, 21-High-speed camera, 22-Laser 3D scanner. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific preferred embodiments.

[0034] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "left side," "right side," "upper part," "lower part," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. "First," "second," etc., do not indicate the importance of the components, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention. The specific dimensions used in this embodiment are only for illustrating the technical solution and do not limit the scope of protection of this invention.

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown, a simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and failure under continuous rainstorm conditions includes a reservoir area simulation device, a downstream terrain simulation device, a rainfall device, a rainwater harvesting device, and a monitoring device.

[0036] The storage area simulation device includes a storage area simulation test box 2, which consists of a horizontally supporting thick steel plate as the base plate and three vertical thick steel plates as the side plates. The surface of the horizontally supporting thick steel plate is treated with rust prevention, and the vertical thick steel plates are fully welded to the horizontally supporting thick steel plate to form a storage area space enclosed on three sides. The inner side wall of the storage area simulation test box 2 is smooth and burr-free, and the side wall of the storage area simulation test box 2 is provided with an open end.

[0037] The reservoir area simulation test chamber 2 contains a post-construction dam, located at the open end of chamber 2. This post-construction dam is composed of salt-containing tailings sand 18 and tailings sand 17. The salt component of the salt-containing tailings sand 18 is sodium chloride. The outer layer of the post-construction dam, which is in direct contact with the accumulated water, is simulated iron ore tailings sand 17, while the inner layer is salt-containing tailings sand 18. The simulated iron ore tailings sand 17 includes: quartz sand: 70%~75% (particle size 0.075~2 mm), simulating the main silica (SiO2) component in the tailings and providing the skeletal structure; kaolin / feldspar powder: 15%~20%, simulating alumina (Al2O3) component and adjusting the cohesiveness of the tailings sand; limestone powder: 5%~8%, simulating alkaline gangue components such as calcium oxide (CaO); and reduced iron powder: 1%~2%, simulating residual iron oxide (Fe2O3 / Fe3O4).

[0038] The bottom of the reservoir area simulation test box 2 is equipped with four telescopic support columns 1. The telescopic support columns 1 are made of high-strength stainless steel and the telescopic length is fixed by locking bolts. The bottom end is equipped with an anti-slip rubber pad, and the top end is detachably connected to the reservoir area simulation test box 2 to provide stable support for the reservoir area simulation device.

[0039] The top of the reservoir area simulation test chamber 2 is open, and a rainmaking device is mounted directly above it. The rainmaking device includes a support bracket 9, which is made of aluminum alloy. The legs of the support bracket 9 are bolted to the outer edge of the reservoir area simulation test chamber 2. n water supply pipes 13, n≥1, are laid on the support bracket 9. Each water supply pipe 13 is equipped with m nozzles, m≥1, forming... The nozzle matrix consists of n branch pipes 13, each connected to a main water pipe 11 via a flat tee connector 12. The other end of the main water pipe 11 is sealed to the water supply device via a threaded connector. The flat tee connector 12, made of brass, is positioned between the main water pipe and the branch water pipes to evenly distribute the water flow to each row of nozzles. The nozzles are specifically omnidirectional nozzles 10, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the universal nozzle 10 consists of a flat tee pipe and three 90° bends connected together. The bends are connected by a rotatable external pipe structure, which can realize 360° horizontal rotation and 0-90° vertical pitch adjustment to meet the simulation requirements of different rainfall angles.

[0040] The water supply device includes a graduated acrylic water tank 5, a water pump 6, and a water supply pipe 8. The acrylic water tank 5 has a volume scale with a minimum graduation of 100mL engraved on its outer side for accurate water volume reading. The water pump 6 is fixedly mounted on a bracket above the water tank 5. The inlet of the water pump 6 is sealed to the water tank 5, and the outlet of the water pump 6 is connected to the water supply branch pipe 13 via the water supply pipe 8. A stop valve 7, an IP65 sealing-rated ball valve, is installed on the water supply pipe 8 to control the flow and regulate the flow rate.

[0041] The reservoir area simulation test chamber 2 is equipped with rainwater harvesting devices on all four sides to collect rainwater overflowing from it. The rainwater harvesting devices include a push-pull telescopic support 14, a waterproof sheet 15, and a funnel 16. (For example...) Figure 3 As shown, the push-pull telescopic bracket 14 is made of stainless steel and is installed around the reservoir simulation device, with a total of four brackets. The waterproof cloth 15 is made of PVC coated fabric in a hollow cylindrical shape. The fixed end of the push-pull telescopic bracket 14 is connected to the side wall of the reservoir simulation experimental box 2, and the telescopic end is connected to the outer edge of the waterproof cloth 15. The inner edge of the waterproof cloth 15 is connected to the side wall of the reservoir simulation experimental box 2. The height of the bracket is flush with the highest point of the reservoir simulation device. The inner edge of the waterproof cloth 15 is seamlessly connected to the wall of the reservoir simulation device by a buckle, and the outer edge is fixedly connected to the outermost crossbar of the push-pull telescopic bracket 14, allowing the recovery range to be adjusted as the bracket extends and retracts. The funnels 16 are made of PP material, with a total of four, and are installed on the outside of the four telescopic support columns 1. The upper end of the funnel 16 is connected to the lowest point of the four corners of the waterproof cloth 15 through a flexible hose, and the lower end is connected to the return water pipe through a snap-on sealing joint. The return water pipe is connected to the water tank 5 to realize the recovery and diversion of rainwater. The rainwater harvesting device described in this application provides a guarantee for the simulated rainfall angle of the rainfall device, ensuring that all overflowing rainwater is completely collected during the adjustment of the rainfall angle, further guaranteeing the accuracy of data calculation. A flow monitoring device is installed on the return water pipe.

[0042] The downstream terrain simulation device includes a downstream terrain simulation test box 3, which consists of a horizontally supporting thick steel plate as the base plate and three vertical thick steel plates as the side plates. The surface of the horizontally supporting thick steel plate is treated with rust prevention, and the vertical thick steel plates are fully welded to the horizontally supporting thick steel plate to form a downstream simulation space enclosed on three sides. The inner sidewall of the downstream terrain simulation test box 3 is smooth and burr-free, and the sidewall of the downstream terrain simulation test box 3 is provided with an open end.

[0043] The downstream terrain simulation experimental chamber 3 is equipped with a horizontal needle-carving base 19. The needles in the horizontal needle-carving base 19 are made of stainless steel, and their height is independently controlled by a bottom adjustment mechanism. Both the needle holes and the surface of the needles have hemispherical regular protrusions to limit the descent of the needles. The waterproof geomembrane 20 is made of HDPE and covers the inner wall of the horizontal needle-carving base 19 and the vertical thick steel plate. It is fixed to the edges by pressure strips and bolts to ensure a tight fit with the simulated terrain and prevent water leakage.

[0044] The bottom of the downstream terrain simulation experimental box 3 is equipped with four telescopic support columns 1. The telescopic support columns 1 are made of high-strength stainless steel and the telescopic length is fixed by locking bolts. The bottom end is equipped with an anti-slip rubber pad, and the top end is detachably connected to the downstream terrain simulation experimental box 3 to provide stable support for the downstream terrain simulation device.

[0045] The open ends of the reservoir area simulation test box 2 and the downstream terrain simulation test box 3 are hinged together by an inclined plate 4. The inclined plate 4 is an inclined thin steel plate, and the reservoir area simulation test box 2, the downstream terrain simulation test box 3, and the inclined plate 4 are all made of 304 stainless steel. The two ends of the inclined plate 4 are respectively hinged to the horizontal support thick steel plates of the reservoir area simulation test box 2 and the downstream terrain simulation test box 3 by 2-3 stainless steel hinges. The tilt angle can be adjusted by rotating around the hinges to realize the transition between the reservoir area and the downstream terrain.

[0046] The monitoring device includes two high-speed cameras 21 and a laser 3D scanner 22. Two high-speed cameras 21 are mounted on top of a baffle on one side of the reservoir area simulation device and the downstream terrain simulation device, respectively, via retractable brackets. These cameras can clearly record the dynamic changes during the dam breach process. The laser 3D scanner 22 is placed to the side of the two high-speed cameras 21, enabling real-time acquisition of 3D morphological data of the dam body and downstream terrain. It works in conjunction with the high-speed cameras 21 to synchronously record images and data of the entire dam breach process.

[0047] The working principle of the experimental device simulating tailings dam instability and collapse under continuous heavy rain conditions is as follows: a dam is constructed in the reservoir area simulation device, and simulated iron ore tailings sand 17 and salt-containing tailings sand 18 are piled up to form a later dam. The horizontal needle-carved base 19 is pressed to simulate the downstream terrain. The geomembrane is tightly attached to the horizontal needle-carved base 19 and the vertical thick steel plate. The initial volume of water in the acrylic water tank 5 is recorded. The angle of the universal nozzle 10 is adjusted to the experimental conditions. The push-pull telescopic bracket 14 is deployed to expand the rainwater recovery range. The water stop valve 7 and the water pump are opened to pump the water in the acrylic water tank 5 into the water supply pipe. The water falls from each group of universal nozzles 10 to the tailings dam pile in the reservoir area simulation device to carry out the dam collapse experiment. During this process, the angle of the universal nozzle 10 can be adjusted to simulate the influence of natural wind on the tailings dam, and thus the influence on the tailings dam pile dam collapse test. The water pump and the water stop valve 7 can also be adjusted to simulate different rainfall amounts and intensities. Finally, the entire dam breach process was recorded using a high-speed camera and a laser 3D scanner 22, and the total rainfall was calculated from the final water level of the acrylic tank 5.

[0048] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific details in the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, various equivalent transformations can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention, and these equivalent transformations all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and failure under continuous rainstorm conditions, characterized in that, This includes reservoir area simulation devices, downstream terrain simulation devices, rainfall devices, and rainwater harvesting devices; The reservoir area simulation device includes a reservoir area simulation test box, which has an open end on its side wall. The reservoir area simulation test box contains a later dam body, and a rainfall device is installed directly above the reservoir area simulation test box. The rainfall device includes a support frame, on which n water supply branch pipes are laid, n≥1, and m nozzles are installed on the water supply branch pipes, m≥1; the water supply branch pipes are connected to the water supply device. The reservoir area simulation test chamber is equipped with rainwater harvesting devices on all four sides to collect rainwater that overflows from the chamber. The downstream terrain simulation device includes a downstream terrain simulation experimental box, which has an open end on its side wall and a horizontal pin-carved base inside the downstream terrain simulation experimental box. The open ends of the reservoir area simulation test box and the downstream terrain simulation test box are connected by inclined plates.

2. The simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and failure under continuous rainstorm conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner layer of the later dam body is salt-bearing tailings, and the outer layer is simulated iron ore tailings sand.

3. The simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and failure under continuous rainstorm conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The nozzle is a universal nozzle, which includes a flat tee and three 90° bends. The bends are connected by a rotatable tube external connection structure to achieve 360° horizontal rotation and 0-90° vertical pitch adjustment to meet the simulation needs of different rainfall angles.

4. The simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and failure under continuous rainstorm conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The rainwater harvesting device includes a push-pull telescopic bracket, a waterproof sheet, a funnel, and a water tank; the water tank is equipped with water level markings. The waterproof cloth is in the shape of a hollow cylinder. The fixed end of the push-pull telescopic bracket is connected to the side wall of the warehouse simulation test box, the telescopic end of the push-pull telescopic bracket is connected to the outer edge of the waterproof cloth, and the inner edge of the waterproof cloth is connected to the side wall of the warehouse simulation test box. The bottom of the waterproof cloth is connected to the return water pipe, which is equipped with a funnel and is connected to the water tank.

5. The simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and failure under continuous rainstorm conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Waterproof geomembrane was laid on the inner wall of the downstream terrain simulation test chamber and on the horizontal needle-carved base.

6. The simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and failure under continuous rainstorm conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The water supply system includes a water pump and water supply pipes; The water pump's inlet is connected to the water tank, and the water pump's outlet is connected to the water supply branch pipe via a water supply pipe. A stop valve is installed on the water supply pipe.

7. The simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and failure under continuous rainstorm conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Both the reservoir area simulation test chamber and the downstream terrain simulation test chamber are equipped with retractable support columns at the bottom for height adjustment.

8. The simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and failure under continuous rainstorm conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes monitoring devices, which include high-speed cameras and laser 3D scanners; Two high-speed cameras are installed: one is mounted next to the reservoir area simulation device via a telescopic bracket, and the other is mounted next to the downstream terrain simulation device via a telescopic bracket. Two laser 3D scanners are provided, each positioned next to a high-speed camera.

9. The simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and failure under continuous rainstorm conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The reservoir area simulation test box, the downstream terrain simulation test box, and the inclined plate are all made of 304 stainless steel; the two ends of the inclined plate are hinged to the open ends of the reservoir area simulation test box and the downstream terrain simulation test box, respectively.

10. The simulation experimental device for tailings dam instability and failure under continuous rainstorm conditions as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The needle body in the horizontal needle carving base is made of stainless steel, and its height can be independently controlled by the bottom adjustment mechanism. Both the needle hole and the surface of the needle body are provided with hemispherical regular protrusions to limit the descent of the needle body.

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