FLO-2D Tailings Dam

Breach Modeling

Tailings Dam Failure

and 2 Phase Mudflow Modeling

Jim O’Brien
 Focus of Today’s Webinar
Training - FLO-2D tailings dam breach new 2 phase flow component

Pro Users can download the tailings dam breach component kit from
FTP https://flo-2d.sharefile.com/ :

• FLO_2PHASE.exe – separate model not FLOPro.exe

• MAXPLOT_2PHASE.exe
• Documentation: Two Phase Flow for Tailings Dam and Mudflows
• PPT presentation
• Tailing Dam Tool.exe
Disclaimer: Photos and images in this PPT presentation are reproduced with client’s permission from jointly prepared reports/presentations
 Topics
 Background – advancing from preliminary 2-phase approach
 Dam breach modeling
 Sediment transport
 Mudflow
 2-phase flow approach
 Data input
 Project example
Predicting Tailings Dam Failure with Water Storage
Tailings Dam Breach into
Other Water Bodies
 Advanced from First 2 Phase Flow Model

May 2020 Webinar – Introduced 2 phase flow approach to tailings mudflows

Initially researched 2 phase flow methods – searching for an appropriate physical

process advection/diffusion approach

In addition to sediment transport equations – used separate uplift and dropdown

functions to exchange sediment between fluid and mudflow

Approach was abandoned after observing a bias in the uplift over the dropdown
functions in numerous tests
 Original Sediment Pickup Function
at Fluid-Mudflow Interface

• Vertical sediment discharge flux required sediment concentration at the

fluid-mudflow interface
• Pickup function based on Van Rijn (1984) with modified Shield’s parameter
and bed shear stress
 Original Sediment Dropdown Function
• Deposition rate is based on the immersed weight and drag of the sediment
size
• Drag coefficient is a function of the particle Reynold’s number, viscosity ~
f(Cv), sediment size and near-bed concentration

• Bed concentration is based on the mudflow

 Problem with Original Approach
Exchange sediment volume between fluid and mudflow involved two
physiologically different representations of particle lift/drag/fall which
created bias in the sediment exchange
Complexity…turbulence stresses, dispersive stresses, viscous and yield
stresses, cohesive stresses - flocculation and deflocculation dependent on size
gradation coefficient, incipient motion criteria, inhibited fall velocities, 3-D
variation…too many unknowns
Simplified the approach…used only the sediment transport equations
 Current 2 Phase Flow Approach

Sediment exchange between fluid layers and mudflow layer is now

based on the sediment transport capacity equations (1 of 11 in the
FLO-2D model)
 Dam Breach Modeling

• 2 dam breach options: prescribed breach rates

(vertical/horizontal) or breach erosion
• Tailings Dam Tool – predict breach volume
• Downstream mudflow routing
 Two Dam Breach Modes

1. Prescribed rate of breach – vertical and horizontal; instantaneous

(rates = 0.0)

2. Predict breach erosion – use sediment transport equation

 Prescribed Failure – Assign Breach Rates
• Globally locate a failure location or prescribe the location
• Set duration = 0.5 - 1.0 hr to allow for saturation
• Set breach elevation to 1 ft below crest or assign elevation

Failure Elevation

No dam sediment scour – dam volume is minor

compared to storage volume
Prescribed Horizontal and Vertical Failure Rates

Horizontal failure rate Vertical failure rate

Prescribed Breach
Failure Data

Assign Breach Direction

FLO-2D Dam Breach Erosion
 Dam Breach Erosion - Overview

• Complex – a number of variables

• Piping or overtopping failure
• Integrate breach erosion and downstream flooding in one model
• Sediment transport equations – 9 of 11 eqns – want fast breach
• Erosion based on hydraulics: water surface and tailwater elevations
• Conserves routed water and sediment volumes – automatically bulks flow
 Pipe Breach Failure

Pipe Expansion
Pipe roof
Specify Pipe Elevation ZD
1
TW Submergence
ZU Pipe Breach
1

Pipe Outlet = 1 ft > Floodplain Elev.

Pipe Collapses into a Channel

 Overtopping Breach Failure
Rectangular Channel
Enlargement

Breach
Side Slope Slump Expansion
Weir Control Ch
an
ne ZD
lF
low 1
Trapezoid Channel
ZU Enlargement
1

Breach Channel Erosion

 Breach Parameter Sensitivity
Parameter Sensitivity Range

Initial breach ratio low 1 – 10

breach slope/pipe elevation high Maximize within dam/levee
D50 high 0.025 – 100 mm
sediment gradation D90/D30 moderate 2.0 - 50.0
cohesive strength moderate 100 - 750 lb/ft2

n-value moderate 0.035 - 0.25

Cvmax high 0.45 - 0.55

weir coefficient moderate 2.85 – 3.05

internal friction angle low 20⁰ - 40⁰

TIME DIRECTION BREACH Q SEDIMENT DISCHARGE SEDIMENT CONC. BOTTOM WIDTH TOP WIDTH BREACH ELEV
HRS CFS OR CMS CFS OR CMS BY VOLUME FT OR M FT OR M FT OR M

0.100
0.200
0.300
0.400
5
5
5
5
0.52
1.32
4.97
12.10
0.089
0.223
0.783
2.339
0.1689
0.1830
0.1551
0.1905
0.54
0.68
1.01
1.65
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
1754.98
1754.91
1754.75
1754.43
BREACH.OUT
0.500 5 36.32 8.233 0.2235 2.86 0.00 1753.82
0.600 5 156.86 40.395 0.2537 5.55 0.00 1752.46
0.700 5 448.99 120.429 0.2678 9.04 0.24 1750.70
0.800 5 598.36 91.077 0.1518 10.80 10.80 1749.72
0.900 5 1731.73 274.320 0.1579 16.64 16.64 1746.62
1.000
1.100
1.200
5
5
5
10975.81
100512.67
657360.23
1629.537
12068.983
35402.878
0.1528
0.1202
0.0616
34.50
95.30
264.39
34.50
137.97
376.93
1736.96
1715.11
1672.74
• When does Qpeak occur?
1.300 5 1408446.45 26573.242 0.0196 391.57 541.91 1640.00
1.400 5 1736215.55 15193.507 0.0087 449.26 616.95 1624.98
1.500 5 1688752.59 8770.725 0.0052 477.57 653.84 1617.55
1.600
1.700
1.800
5
5
5
1772786.36
1840137.22
1891515.73
6523.892
6018.903
6310.246
0.0037
0.0033
0.0033
495.05
508.68
522.01
676.63
694.43
711.84
1612.95
1609.34
1605.81
• When does Cv max occur?
1.900 5 2004145.83 6125.858 0.0031 535.39 729.31 1602.26
2.000 5 2210425.75 4453.604 0.0020 545.47 742.50 1599.57
2.100 5 2218669.89 4716.722 0.0021 554.43 754.21 1597.19
2.200
2.300
5
5
2254816.92
2280490.27
5168.339
5693.982
0.0023
0.0025
563.90
574.45
766.60
780.17
1594.66
1592.02 • Only sediment available is in
2.400 5 2318746.22 5818.745 0.0025 597.25 803.93 1591.10
2.500
2.600
5
5
2322087.78
2289493.88
5637.899
5293.326
0.0024
0.0023
624.96
650.38
831.64
857.05
1591.10
1591.10 the dam embankment
2.700 5 2311837.59 5123.245 0.0022 675.02 881.70 1591.10
2.800 5 2282970.54 4483.545 0.0019 698.46 905.14 1591.10
2.900 5 1720607.63 4306.399 0.0025 718.16 924.84 1591.10
3.000 5 1386646.79 4785.031 0.0034 740.32 946.99 1591.10
3.100 5 1352984.86 4614.678 0.0034 762.36 969.03 1591.10
3.200 5 1398151.32 4605.296 0.0033 784.04 990.72 1591.10
3.300 5 1642607.59 4035.814 0.0025 804.20 1010.88 1591.10
3.400 5 1878544.71 3798.996 0.0020 823.67 1030.34 1591.10
3.500 5 1851407.94 3371.043 0.0018 840.28 1046.96 1591.10
3.600 5 1801203.51 3257.236 0.0018 856.03 1062.71 1591.10
3.700 5 1627609.30 2686.075 0.0016 870.24 1076.92 1591.10
3.800 5 1235015.51 3052.510 0.0025 883.42 1090.09 1591.10
3.900 5 1178676.55 2983.600 0.0025 897.92 1104.60 1591.10
4.000 5 1134769.90 2792.174 0.0025 911.56 1118.24 1591.10
4.100 5 1092548.41 2601.063 0.0024 924.36 1131.04 1591.10
4.200 5 1049467.74 2440.572 0.0023 936.33 1143.01 1591.10
4.300 5 1009832.98 2263.140 0.0022 947.47 1154.15 1591.10
4.400 5 1021853.79 2251.189 0.0022 958.16 1164.84 1591.10
4.500 5 993968.83 2070.974 0.0021 968.41 1175.09 1591.10
4.600 5 965760.01 1930.528 0.0020 977.86 1184.55 1591.10
4.700 5 936824.98 1840.866 0.0020 986.80 1193.48 1591.10
4.800 5 911337.82 1720.490 0.0019 995.23 1201.91 1591.10
4.900 5 881603.51 156.521 0.0002 999.97 1206.63 1591.10
5.000 5 852788.33 0.000 0.0000 1000.00 1206.66 1591.10
5.100 5 819908.44 0.000 0.0000 1000.00 1206.66 1591.10
5.200 5 795480.43 0.000 0.0000 1000.00 1206.66 1591.10
 Dam Breach Summary w/r Tailing Dams

• Set up a dam shape – even if there isn’t one

• Breach the dam – initially let the water out
• Erode through the dam – release the tailings
• Route the breach hydrograph downstream as 2 phase flow
FLO-2D Dam Breach Downstream Flood Routing
Sediment Transport and Mudflows
 FLO-2D Sediment Transport
Uncoupled sediment transport

• FLO-2D calculates flow hydraulics, then estimates sediment transport

• Assumes changes in channel geometry or floodplain topography for a given
timestep are relatively small and do not significantly effect the flow hydraulics
• Sediment is uniformly distributed on floodplain cells
• Cv < 20% by volume
 Sediment Transport Concepts
Δ Storage (scour/deposition) for a element =
Sediment supply in – sediment transport capacity out

Sediment transport
Sediment supply in
capacity out
Δ Storage

River Bed

Generally 5 or more timesteps (1-10 seconds) are required to change the bed elev by 0.10 ft
Sediment Transport Considerations
 Sediment Transport Equations
Choice of sediment transport capacity equations:
• Zeller-Fullerton
• Yang
• Engelund & Hansen
• Ackers & White
• Laursen
• Tofaletti
• Woo-MPM
• MPM-Smart
• Karim-Kennedy
• Parker, Klingeman and & McLean
• Van Rijn
Each formula was based on unique river conditions.
Research equation applicability to each project.
 Sediment Transport Equations

Zeller-Fullerton: Multiple regression sediment transport equation for a range

of channel bed and alluvial floodplain conditions.
• A computer generated solution of the Meyer-Peter, Muller bed-load equation
combined with Einstein’s suspended load to generate a bed material load
• Assumes all sediment sizes are available for transport (no armoring). The original
Einstein method is assumed to work best when the bedload constitutes a
significant portion of the total load

A brief description of each equation is presented in the FLO-2D reference manual

and in the tailings dam 2 phase flow document
 Sediment Transport Equations

Zeller-Fullerton: Range of Parameters

Froude No: 0.3 – 3.0
Velocity: > 2 fps
Manning’s n-value: > 0.020
Bed slope: 0.0005 – 0.050
Particle size: D50 > 0.0625 mm, D90 < 32 mm
 Sediment Transport Equations
Suggested for Sand Bed Systems
Choice of 8 sediment transport equations:
• Zeller-Fullerton
• Yang
• Engelund & Hansen
• Ackers & White
• Laursen
• Tofaletti
• Karim-Kennedy
• Van Rijn
 Sediment Transport Equations Suggested
for Gravel-Cobble Bed Systems
Choice of 5 sediment transport equations:
• Zeller-Fullerton
• MPM-Smart
• Karim-Kennedy
• Parker, Klingeman & McLean
• Van Rijn
Sediment Transport Equations that are a function
of slope (bed or energy)

• Yangs
• Engelund & Hansen
• Toffaleti
• MPM-Smart
• Karim-Kennedy
• Parker, Klingeman & McLean
• Van Rijn
Sediment Transport Equations that are a function of
shear stress or incipient motion
• Yangs
• Ackers & White
• Laursen
• Toffaleti
• MPM-Smart
• Karim-Kennedy
• Parker, Klingeman & McLean
• Van Rijn
 Equation Excess Scour Primary Variables
Zeller-Fullerton – Total Bed Matl Load (BML) V4 d-0.3

Yang – Total BML Vd * log (VS)

Engelund & Hansen – Total BML V2 d1.5 S1.5

Ackers & White* – Total BML d-0.5 V0.5

Laurson – Total BML V d-1/6

Toffaleti* – Total BML + Unmeas Load 4 zones – complicated

MPM-Woo* – Bed Load + Hyperconcentrated Va db where a = 1.6-5.8 and b = -0.8 to 0.9

MPM-Smart – Bed Load Enhanced S2.1 d1.67

Karim-Kennedy – Total BML V3 S0.75

Parker, Klingeman & McLean – BL for coarse matl and mixed BL & SL for (d S)1.5
sands

Van Rijn* – Separate BL + Susp Load Mixed V d τ τc

*
Complicated equations with numerous coefficients and empirical parameters
Bed Armoring – Sediment Routing by Size Fractions
Armoring - upper layers become coarser as the finer sediment is removed.
Coarse sediment covers the bed and protects the finer sediment below.
 MUDFLOWS
Water

Mudflow
 FLO-2D Mudflow Routing
• Fluid properties control flow hydraulics
• Treats flow as a fluid continuum
• Track water and sediment volume on a cell basis - dilution
• Limitation: No bed sediment exchange – only flow cessation and
re-mobilization
Mudflow Behavior as a Function of Sediment Concentration
Sediment Concentration Flow Characteristics

by Volume by Weight

Landslide 0.65 - 0.80 0.83 - 0.91 Will not flow; failure by block sliding
0.55 - 0.65 0.76 - 0.83 Block sliding failure with internal deformation during the slide; slow
creep prior to failure
Mudflow 0.48 - 0.55 0.72 - 0.76 Flow evident; slow creep sustained mudflow; plastic deformation
under its own weight; cohesive; will not spread on level surface

0.45 - 0.48 0.69 - 0.72 Flow spreading on level surface; cohesive flow; some mixing

Mud Flood 0.40 - 0.45 0.65 - 0.69 Flow mixes easily; shows fluid properties in deformation; spreads on
horizontal surface but maintains an inclined fluid surface; large
particle (boulder) setting; waves appear but dissipate rapidly

0.35 - 0.40 0.59 - 0.65 Marked settling of gravels and cobbles; spreading nearly complete on
horizontal surface; liquid surface with two fluid phases appears; waves
travel on surface
0.30 - 0.35 0.54 - 0.59 Separation of water on surface; waves travel easily; most sand and
gravel has settled out and moves as bedload
0.20 - 0.30 0.41 - 0.54 Distinct wave action; fluid surface; all particles resting on bed in
quiescent fluid condition
Water Flood < 0.20 < 0.41 Water flood with conventional suspended load and bedload
Mudflow – Dominant Viscous Stresses

 = y +  (v/y) + C (v/y)2

C = f(turbulence and dispersion)

 Fluid shear stresses with high sediment concentrations

 Cohesive stress - fine particle attraction

 Viscous stress - interaction between particles and surrounding fluid
 Inertial impact from colliding sediment particles – dispersive stress
 Turbulence stress – fluid mixing
 Yield Stress and Viscosity as a Function of Sediment Concentration

y = eCv  = eCv
Source    
Field Data
Aspen Pit 1 0.181 25.7 0.0360 22.1
Aspen Pit 2 2.72 10.4 0.0538 14.5
Aspen Natural Soil 0.152 18.7 0.00136 28.4
Aspen Mine Fill 0.0473 21.1 0.128 12.0
Aspen Watershed 0.0383 19.6 0.000495 27.1
Aspen Mine Source Area 0.291 14.3 0.000201 33.1
Glenwood 1 0.0345 20.1 0.00283 23.0
Glenwood 2 0.0765 16.9 0.0648 6.20
Glenwood 3 0.000707 29.8 0.00632 19.9
Glenwood 4 0.00172 29.5 0.000602 33.1
Relationships Available from the Literature
Iida (1938) - - 0.0000373 36.6
Dai et al. (1980) 2.60 17.48 0.00750 14.39
Kang and Zhang (1980) 1.75 7.82 0.0405 8.29
0.00136 21.2 - -
Qian et al. (1980)
0.050 15.48 - -
Chien and Ma (1958) 0.0588 19.1-32.7 - -
0.166 25.6 - -
Fei (1981)
0.00470 22.2 - -
Original FLO-2D Method Deposition
Project Example

Maximum Depth

2019 Tailings and Mine Waste Conference

 Sediment Limitations with Existing FLO-2D Model

• Conventional sediment transport capacity equations are not valid for

concentrations by volume > 20%
- Dilute sediment models ignore viscous and dispersive stresses

• No bed exchange (scour and deposition) for mudflows

- Can’t predict particle fall velocity and drag in viscous flows with particle collisions
New FLO-2D Two Phase Flow Component
 Two Phase Flow Concepts
Tailings Dam Breach Q consists of two layers (phases):
• Upper fluid phase with conventional sediment transport processes
• Lower hyperconcentrated sediment flow layer where viscous stresses
dominate (mudflow or mud flood)
• Sediment exchange between the two layers
• Flow cessation with the mudflow phase
• Bed scour and deposition if fluid phase contacts bed (mudflow layer is
missing)
 2 Phase Flow Regimes
y

V Fluid – sediment Flow

transport

Sediment
Mudflow Exchange
Cv Ground x
from Amoudry (2008)
 2 Phase Flow Model
• Mudflow cessation and remobilization
• Fluid layer can race ahead over the mudflow layer
• Fluid layer can pick up from or drop sediment to the mudflow layer
• Increase/decrease sediment concentration in each layer
• Mudflow layer can dilute into the fluid layer
• Fluid layer can become part of the mudflow layer
• If the mudflow layer ceases to exist, fluid layer can exchange sediment
with the bed
 Sediment Vertical Flux Complexity

• Dispersive stress – turbulent suspension, particle collisions

• Boundary variability – hiding factors, bed forms, boundary layers

• Unsteady conditions – turbulent bursts, concentrations variability

Assign Tailings Surface (Green) and
Reservoir Water Surface (Yellow)
 Enter the Tailings Dam Level - INFLOW.DAT
INFLOW.DAT (only need 1 line)
Water Elevation Tailings Elevation
cell WS elev tailings thickness or elevation res. n-value
R 7576 318.75 m 5.0 or 315.5 m 0.20

or...

TAILINGS.DAT (bed elevation is tailings elevation)

7127 10.000 (below cell tailings elevation - thickness)
7128 10.000
7129 10.000
7130 10.000
7188 10.000
7189 10.000
7190 10.000
 Storage Volume Options
Tailings dam storage - two layers (water and tailings):
• Assign water surface elevation
• Original bedrock elevation is known - before tailings is deposited
- Assign positive tailings depth or elevation
- Assign tailings depth (< 100 ft or m); tailings elevation is computed
- Assign tailings elevation (> 100 ft or m); tailings depth is computed

• Tailings elevation is known – original bedrock elevation is unknown

- Assign tailings depth as negative (-); tailings depth and bedrock elevation are computed
- Alternately, if you want a uniform tailings surface – select all reservoir elements in QGIS and
assign elevation
 Assign Tailings Surface (Green) and
ASSIGN Reservoir Water Surface (Yellow)
 Tailings Dam Fluid Surface

INFLOW.DAT
R 7576 318.75 m 315.5 m 0.20
 Tailings Dam Fluid Surface

INFLOW.DAT
R 7576 318.75 m 315.5 m 0.20
Tailings Dam Mudflow Layer Surface

INFLOW.DAT
R 7576 318.75 m 315.5 m 0.20
Tailings Dam Mudflow Surface

INFLOW.DAT
R 7576 318.75 m 315.5 m 0.20
 2 Phase Flow Regimes
y
Fluid – sediment transport
Sediment Sediment Transport
Flow Supply Capacity
Capacity - Supply
Sediment
Exchange

Mudflow Mudflow Movement

Movement Dilution (+ or -)

Mudflow (cessation/remobilization)
x
Ground
 2 Phase Flow Regimes No Mudflow
y
Fluid – sediment transport
Flow Sediment Sediment Transport
Supply Capacity
Capacity - Supply
Sediment
Exchange
Ground x
 Sediment Exchange at Fluid-Mudflow Interface

• Difference between sediment inflow and sediment transport capacity based

on the selected sediment transport equation (inflow – capacity = deposition
or scour)
• Equations: Experimental and measured results are for bed sediment
concentrations up to about 5 to 10% by volume…extrapolate to higher
concentrations
• After the sediment volume exchange – compute sediment concentrations by
volume Cv = Vsed/Vtot = Vsed/(Vsed+Vw)
 Sediment Exchange at Fluid-Mudflow Interface
Assumed limitations for computed fluid sediment volume exchange (positive
volume + for deposition…or…negative volume - for scour)

• Cv-fluid > 30% Fluid sediment and water volumes are added to the mudflow

• Cv-fluid > 20% and Cv-mud < 56% Fluid sediment volume > 20% is added to the mudflow

• Cv-mud > 56% Mudflow sediment volume > 56% is added to the bed (deposition)

• Cv-mud < 20% Mudflow sediment and water volume is added to the fluid phase

• Cv-fluid > 20% and no mudflow Fluid sediment volume > 20% is exchanged with the bed
Small volumes exchanged based
Cv = 0.56 Maximum packing factor for spheres on timesteps ~ 1 second
Cv = 0.615 Bagnold’s maximum sediment concentration
Cv = 0.60-0.70 Natural soil porosity
Mudflow Behavior as a Function of Sediment Concentration
Sediment Concentration Flow Characteristics

by Volume by Weight

Landslide 0.65 - 0.80 0.83 - 0.91 Will not flow; failure by block sliding
0.55 - 0.65 0.76 - 0.83 Block sliding failure with internal deformation during the slide; slow
creep prior to failure
Mudflow 0.48 - 0.55 0.72 - 0.76 Flow evident; slow creep sustained mudflow; plastic deformation
under its own weight; cohesive; will not spread on level surface

0.45 - 0.48 0.69 - 0.72 Flow spreading on level surface; cohesive flow; some mixing

Mud Flood 0.40 - 0.45 0.65 - 0.69 Flow mixes easily; shows fluid properties in deformation; spreads on
horizontal surface but maintains an inclined fluid surface; large
particle (boulder) setting; waves appear but dissipate rapidly

0.35 - 0.40 0.59 - 0.65 Marked settling of gravels and cobbles; spreading nearly complete on
horizontal surface; liquid surface with two fluid phases appears; waves
travel on surface
0.30 - 0.35 0.54 - 0.59 Separation of water on surface; waves travel easily; most sand and
gravel has settled out and moves as bedload
0.20 - 0.30 0.41 - 0.54 Distinct wave action; fluid surface; all particles resting on bed in
quiescent fluid condition
Water Flood < 0.20 < 0.41 Water flood with conventional suspended load and bedload
 Data Requirements
Revisions to the FLOPro model data files:
CONT.DAT – MUD, XCONC
INFLOW.DAT – R-Line
SED.DAT – combine M-lines and C-lines

Optional New Files:

TAILINGS.DAT (for reservoir tailings thickness)
 CONT.DAT
24.000 0.100 0 1 0 Pro Model - Build No. 19.07.21
0 0 1 0 0
0 0 0 2 0 0 0
0 0 0
0.000 0.00 0.400 0.000 0.900 0.200
2 0.00
0 0.00
MUD = 2 (instead of 1)

XCONC = 0.4 Concentration by

volume of saturated tailings
 SED.DAT
M 0.0538 14.5 2.72 10.4 2.65 0.0 Mudflow parameters
C 9 1 0.576 3.71 2.65 14700. 0.0778 0 7362 Sediment transport
Z 9 2.000 0.0778 Sediment routing by size fraction
P 0.062 0.010
P 0.125 0.076
P 0.250 0.575 In FLO_2PHASE…can assign mudflow (Line M) and
P 0.500 0.735 sediment transport (Line C) in the same model
P 1.000 0.826
P 2.000 0.886
P 10.000 0.986
P 26.000 1.000
E 3.0 Scour depth limitation
 Run Model Example and Show Results
New output files include: maximum fluid and mudflow sediment
concentrations; final fluid/mudflow concentrations; max and final fluid and
mudflow depths and velocities
 Run Model Example and Show Results
Client provided a test project: One reservoir failed into another – only used
downstream tailings dam for this example.
 5 m of tailings (at the dam)
 3 m of stored water
 Initial water saturation – 40% sediment concentration by volume

Simulations:
1) Dam fails instantaneously to bed using prescribed breach
2) Dam fails by erosion
3) Dam fails by prescribed breach (11 sediment transport equations)
 Example Project Setup and Maximum Depths

Prescribed breach rate 20 m/hr (vertical & horizontal) using

 Maximum Depths: Fluid and Mudflow

Fluid

Mudflow
 Final Fluid Depth and Velocity after 24 hrs

Depth

Velocity
 Final Mudflow Depth and Velocity after 24 hrs

Depth

Velocity
 Maximum Sediment Concentrations by Volume

Fluid

Mudflow
 Final Sediment Concentrations by Volume

Fluid

Mudflow
 Final Bed Scour or Deposition

Bed scour/deposition

Blue/green = scour
Red = deposition

With mudflow cessation

 Maximum Fluid Depths:
Instantaneous Dam Breach and Breach Erosion

Instantaneous Dam Breach Prescribed Breach Rates

Breach Erosion
 Maximum Mudflow Depths:
Instantaneous Dam Breach and Breach Erosion

Prescribed Breach Rates

Instantaneous Dam Breach

Breach Erosion
Equation Relative Sediment Transport Capacity - Discharge
• Low: Laursen; Toffaleti; Karim-Kennedy

• Moderate: Zeller-Fullerton; Yang; Ackers-White; MPM-Woo; MPM-Smart; Van Rijn

• High: Engelund-Hansen; Parker, Klingman & McClean

 SEDTRANS.OUT
MAXIMUM SEDIMENT TRANSPORT CAPACITY (CFS OR CMS) FOR GRID ELEMENT (1 OF 8 DIRECTIONS FOR FLOODPLAIN FLOW): 7362

TIME(HRS) ZELLER/FULLERTON YANG ENGLUND/HANSEN ACKERS/WHITE LAURSEN TOFFALETI MPM-WOO MPM-SMART KARIM-KENNEDY PARKER,et al. VAN RIJN
0.100 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000
0.200 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000
0.300 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000
0.400 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000
0.500 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000
0.600 0.0000074 0.0000000 0.0000664 0.0000006 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000223 0.0000370 0.0000020 0.0004983 0.0000247
0.700 0.0001335 0.0002928 0.0042407 0.0002299 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0003588 0.0019614 0.0000590 0.0083120 0.0003861
0.800 0.0011223 0.0046951 0.0346583 0.0019351 0.0000198 0.0000044 0.0028350 0.0090525 0.0004440 0.0251520 0.0029869
0.900 0.0057770 0.0133984 0.0783890 0.0065379 0.0003582 0.0000147 0.0150707 0.0086617 0.0014481 0.0259166 0.0169697
1.000 0.0173266 0.0532924 0.3862109 0.0204568 0.0021760 0.0012940 0.0463913 0.0363218 0.0053509 0.0752926 0.0548318
1.100 0.0244313 0.0777742 0.6152008 0.0285315 0.0038056 0.0085646 0.0623124 0.0582127 0.0078050 0.1032160 0.0701343
1.200 0.0155183 0.0510897 0.3860259 0.0191119 0.0023393 0.0059504 0.0363001 0.0462802 0.0048983 0.0822270 0.0368352
1.300 0.0061878 0.0235740 0.1717141 0.0088153 0.0008219 0.0014417 0.0135516 0.0307045 0.0020962 0.0575977 0.0125845
1.400 0.0017987 0.0087079 0.0673336 0.0032056 0.0001510 0.0002442 0.0037486 0.0208842 0.0007296 0.0411400 0.0032236
1.500 0.0010290 0.0049346 0.0396581 0.0019286 0.0000418 0.0001290 0.0019924 0.0160909 0.0004240 0.0322159 0.0015647
1.600 0.0007902 0.0037583 0.0314677 0.0015218 0.0000165 0.0001689 0.0014090 0.0154813 0.0003269 0.0296265 0.0010069
1.700 0.0005410 0.0028864 0.0272653 0.0011628 0.0000000 0.0002903 0.0008998 0.0179809 0.0002501 0.0313085 0.0005920
1.800 0.0003957 0.0023673 0.0256015 0.0009509 0.0000000 0.0005977 0.0006167 0.0221901 0.0002055 0.0347069 0.0003761
1.900 0.0003901 0.0023574 0.0261212 0.0009513 0.0000000 0.0012146 0.0005732 0.0247747 0.0002030 0.0362223 0.0003281
2.000 0.0003198 0.0020109 0.0245449 0.0008303 0.0000000 0.0019330 0.0004473 0.0277155 0.0001769 0.0379040 0.0002420
2.101 0.0003591 0.0021558 0.0252051 0.0008966 0.0000000 0.0031607 0.0004779 0.0281786 0.0001868 0.0373366 0.0002460
2.200 0.0002837 0.0016950 0.0219312 0.0007436 0.0000000 0.0025850 0.0003641 0.0285847 0.0001546 0.0366893 0.0001795
2.300 0.0002456 0.0014474 0.0200698 0.0006618 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0003099 0.0285123 0.0001376 0.0361180 0.0001496
2.400 0.0002268 0.0013035 0.0188786 0.0006177 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0002791 0.0285393 0.0001278 0.0355244 0.0001310
2.500 0.0001965 0.0011075 0.0173928 0.0005510 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0002408 0.0282711 0.0001146 0.0350681 0.0001122
2.600 0.0001742 0.0009465 0.0160401 0.0004980 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0002112 0.0278247 0.0001037 0.0343433 0.0000970
2.700 0.0001589 0.0008291 0.0149932 0.0004599 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0001903 0.0274148 0.0000958 0.0336465 0.0000861
2.800 0.0001436 0.0007133 0.0139852 0.0004220 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0001697 0.0271267 0.0000879 0.0330450 0.0000755
2.900 0.0001282 0.0006014 0.0130397 0.0003841 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0001506 0.0268041 0.0000804 0.0325693 0.0000665
3.001 0.0001133 0.0004897 0.0120225 0.0003461 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0001324 0.0262649 0.0000728 0.0318834 0.0000579
3.101 0.0000998 0.0003857 0.0110518 0.0003106 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0001157 0.0257778 0.0000656 0.0311976 0.0000500
...
10.000 0.0000105 0.0000000 0.0003670 0.0000151 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000047 0.0033371 0.0000033 0.0038944 0.0000007
10.100 0.0000113 0.0000000 0.0003891 0.0000165 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000050 0.0034938 0.0000035 0.0040044 0.0000008
10.200 0.0000106 0.0000000 0.0003501 0.0000147 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000047 0.0031737 0.0000032 0.0037220 0.0000007
10.301 0.0000106 0.0000000 0.0003428 0.0000146 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000047 0.0030974 0.0000032 0.0036408 0.0000007
10.401 0.0000091 0.0000000 0.0003130 0.0000123 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000040 0.0030452 0.0000028 0.0035852 0.0000006
10.500 0.0000092 0.0000000 0.0003105 0.0000124 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000040 0.0029942 0.0000029 0.0035301 0.0000006
10.601 0.0000108 0.0000000 0.0003261 0.0000143 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000047 0.0029190 0.0000031 0.0034509 0.0000007
10.701 0.0000109 0.0000000 0.0003221 0.0000143 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000047 0.0028679 0.0000031 0.0033971 0.0000007
10.800 0.0000109 0.0000000 0.0003157 0.0000141 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000046 0.0028143 0.0000031 0.0033392 0.0000007
10.901 0.0000110 0.0000000 0.0002999 0.0000138 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000046 0.0026663 0.0000030 0.0031796 0.0000007
11.000 0.0000122 0.0000000 0.0003006 0.0000150 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000049 0.0025986 0.0000031 0.0030596 0.0000007
11.101 0.0000118 0.0000000 0.0002452 0.0000128 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000045 0.0021090 0.0000028 0.0025710 0.0000006
11.201 0.0000121 0.0000000 0.0002242 0.0000123 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000045 0.0019035 0.0000026 0.0023434 0.0000006
11.301 0.0000124 0.0000000 0.0002067 0.0000119 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000045 0.0017314 0.0000025 0.0021514 0.0000006
11.401 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000
11.500 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000
11.601 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000 0.0000000
Final Scour/Deposition – Bed Elevation Changes
Laursen - low
Final Scour/Deposition – Bed Elevation Changes
Karim-Kennedy - low
Final Scour/Deposition – Bed Elevation Changes
Toffaleti - low
Final Scour/Deposition – Bed Elevation Changes
Zeller-Fullerton – moderate
Final Scour/Deposition – Bed Elevation Changes
Ackers-White - moderate
Final Scour/Deposition – Bed Elevation Changes
MPM-Woo - moderate
Final Scour/Deposition – Bed Elevation Changes
Van Rijn - moderate
Final Scour/Deposition – Bed Elevation Changes
Yang - moderate
Final Scour/Deposition – Bed Elevation Changes
MPM-Smart - moderate
Final Scour/Deposition – Bed Elevation Changes
Parker, Klingman & McClean - high
Final Scour/Deposition – Bed Elevation Changes
Engelund-Hansen - high
 Post Simulation Review
Review Results Output Files Resolution
Review SUMMARY.OUT for fluid volume conservation error and Troubleshoot data files if VC error > 0.0001 percent.
SEDCONSERV.OUT for sediment transport volume conservation. Various data revision options are available.
Volume conservation

Review unreasonable maximum velocities. Files: VELTIMEFP.OUT, Reduced timesteps, increase n-values, adjust elevations
Numerical stability SUPER.OUT, ROUGH.OUT, TIME.OUT
Review xxxx_PRESCRIBED_BREACHQ.OUT, BREACH.OUT for Slow the model down with lower Courant numbers,
Breach hydrograph, peak Q unreasonable peak discharge and surging. increase n-values at breach element and in the reservoir.

Plot maximum fluid and mudflow depths DEPFP.OUT and For unreasonable maximum depths and if the area of
Area of inundation, maximum depth DEPFPMAX_MUD.OUT in MAXPLOT. inundation is too large/small - adjust n-values, elevations,
and limit scour depth.
Review EVACUATEDFP.OUT for the number of cells and occurrences. Model may terminate - address problem grid elements with
Evacuated grid elements Check for early model termination (does not reach simulation time). elevation and n-value revisions. Increase TOL(i) for that
element.

Plot final fluid (FINALDEP.OUT) and mudflow depths Flow should be essentially stopped, final depths should be
(FINALDEP_MUD.OUT) and velocities (FINALVEL.OUT and shallow. If not, run simulation for longer duration, increase
Final flow depths/velocities n-values, review scour depths.
FINALVEL_MUD.OUT) in MAXPLOT.
Plot maximum fluid/mudflow concentrations (CVFPMAX.OUT and Maximum fluid concentrations should be less than 30%;
CVFPMAX_MUD.OUT) in MAXPLOT. maximum mudflow concentrations < 60%. Check surging,
Maximum sediment concentrations slow down model, select alternate sediment transport
equation, review mudflow parameters.

Plot final fluid/mudflow sediment concentrations (FINALCVFP.OUT and If there are unreasonable sediment concentrations in final
FINALCVFP_MUD.OUT) in MAXPLOT. flow depths (ceased flowing), select other sediment
Final sediment concentrations transport equation, revise mudflow parameters, slow
model down,

Review SEDFP.OUT and plot the final bed elevations in this file in If final bed scour depths are excessive, select another
MAXPLOT using the SEDIMENT menu command at the top of the equation of assign reasonable scour depth limitation (E-line
Scour/deposition in SED.DAT).
MAXPLOT screen.
Plot final bed elevations plus mudflow deposits (FINALDEP_MUD.OUT Review where mudflow has ceased flowing and the final
combines with FINALVEL_MUD.OUT) in MAXPLOT using the SEDIMENT bed elevation change associated with the mudflow deposit.
To adjust, edit the mudflow parameters of the tailings
Scour/deposition plus mudflow cessation menu command at the top of the MAXPLOT screen. material.
 SUMMARY.OUT FILE
Pro Model - Build No. 19.07.21

0.100 0.534 0.000000 0.000000

0.200 0.598 0.000000 0.000000
0.300
0.400
0.655
0.708
0.000000
0.000000
0.000000
0.000000
Fluid Volume Conservation and
…
23.700
23.801
3.816
3.819
-0.000000
-0.000000
0.000000
0.000000
Sediment Volume Conservation
23.901 3.822 -0.000000 0.000000
24.000 3.825 -0.000000 0.000000
==================================================================================================================================
MASS BALANCE INFLOW - OUTFLOW VOLUME
==================================================================================================================================
*** INFLOW AND TAILINGS STORAGE (CU METERS) ***

STORED WATER TAILINGS BULKED TAILINGS TOTAL VOLUME

WATER CONTENT (WATER + SEDIMENT)

INFLOW HYDROGRAPH + STORED VOLUME : 397449.000 67948.200 113247.000 510696.000
==================================================================================================================================
*** SURFACE OUTFLOW (CU METERS) ***

OVERLAND FLOW BULKED MUDFLOW

FLOODPLAIN STORAGE 295307.128
FLOODPLAIN OUTFLOW HYDROGRAPH 215388.872
FLOODPLAIN OUTFLOW AND STORAGE 510696.000

==================================================================================================================================
*** TOTALS ***

TOTAL OUTFLOW FROM GRID SYSTEM 215388.872

TOTAL VOLUME OF OUTFLOW AND STORAGE 510696.000

THE MAXIMUM INUNDATED AREA IS: 756000.000 SQ. METERS

THE MAXIMUM INUNDATED AREA (DEPTH > 0.15 M) IS: 691200.000 SQ. METERS
 Numerical Stability – VELTIMEFP.OUT
TOP 1000 MAXIMUM FLOODPLAIN VELOCITIES LISTED IN DESCENDING ORDER

NODE MAXIMUM VELOCITY DEPTH AT MAX. VELOCITY TIME OF OCCURRENCE

(FPS OR MPS) (FT OR M) (HRS)
7362 13.25 3.25 0.501
5695 3.24 2.97 1.202
5609 3.24 3.00 1.225
5522 3.03 3.00 1.239
5780 2.98 3.02 1.185
5069 2.97 3.12 1.148
5434 2.89 2.81 1.303
7361 2.85 2.93 1.055
3901 2.76 3.09 1.294
 Numerical Stability – SUPER.OUT

TOP 1000 SUPERCRITICAL OVERLAND FLOW ELEMENTS IN DESCENDING ORDER OF FROUDE NUMBER
*** NOTE: THIS LIST MAY NOT EXACTLY CORRELATE WITH THE ROUGH.OUT FILE ***
TO REDUCE THE FROUDE NO: INCREASE FLOODPLAIN n-VALUES OR SHALLOWN FOR LOW FLOWS

NODE MAX FROUDE NO DEPTH (FT OR M) TIME (HR) NUMBER OF SUPERCRITICAL TIMESTEPS

2673 1.20 0.23 1.39 16

5864 1.20 0.38 0.94 15
 Numerical Stability – TIME.OUT
TIMESTEPS WERE DECREASED FOR THE FOLLOWING NODES:

(IF CFL STABILITY CRITERIA = 0, SEE EVACUATEDxx.OUT FILES FOR EVACUATED VOLUME ELEMENT TIMESTEP DECREMENTS)

GRID ELEMENT CFL STABILITY CRITERIA

FLOODPLAIN NODES NUMBER OF TIMES EXCEEDED

7362 230
7361 0
5434 0
4784 0

THE LAST ONE HUNDRED TIMESTEP DECREASES - 1 IS THE MOST RECENT TIMESTEP DECREASE
TIMESTEP NODE

1 7361 FP
2 7361 FP
3 7361 FP
4 7361 FP
5 7361 FP
 Numerical Stability – ROUGH.OUT
TOP 1000 OR LESS FLOODPLAIN, CHANNEL OR STREET MANNINGS N CHANGES FOR DEPTHS GREATER THAN 0.2 FT OR 0.06 M
FP = FLOODPLAIN, FP-S = FLOODPLAIN STREETS, MC = MULTIPLE CHANNELS, C = CHANNELS, ST = STREETS

NODE MAX n ORIG. n TIME (HRS)

FP 3136 0.083 0.075 1.329
FP 2854 0.076 0.065 1.367
FP 5345 0.076 0.065 1.009
FP 5864 0.076 0.065 0.944
FP 2673 0.075 0.065 1.401
FP 1291 0.072 0.065 1.744
FP 1375 0.068 0.065 1.712
FP 3613 0.067 0.065 1.225
FP 4784 0.067 0.065 1.071
FP 5069 0.067 0.065 1.042
FP 612 0.067 0.065 2.223
FP 1927 0.067 0.065 1.551
FP 6423 0.066 0.065 0.845
 Peak Discharge Dam Erosion – BREACHQ.OUT
TIME OF INITIAL BREACH FAILURE FOR NODE 7362 IN DIRECTION: 1 IS: 0.0102 HRS WITH A DISCHARGE OF: 0.169 CFS OR CMS
PEAK DISCHARGE(CFS OR CMS): 178.47 OCCURRED AT TIME (HRS): 0.3507

TIME DIRECTION BREACH Q SEDIMENT DISCHARGE SEDIMENT CONC. BOTTOM WIDTH TOP WIDTH BREACH ELEVATION

HRS CFS OR CMS CFS OR CMS BY VOLUME FT OR M FT OR M FT OR M

0.100 1 22.35 1.945 0.1464 1.97 1.97 315.83

0.200 1 103.31 2.453 0.0239 4.09 5.47 313.40
0.300 1 151.28 3.277 0.0218 6.65 13.37 312.68
0.400 1 176.39 2.219 0.0126 9.20 16.63 311.96
0.500 1 165.12 1.310 0.0079 10.55 18.35 311.58
0.600 1 128.55 0.776 0.0061 11.28 19.29 311.37
0.700 1 81.22 0.461 0.0058 11.70 19.82 311.25
0.800 1 47.21 0.294 0.0063 11.95 20.14 311.18
0.900 1 28.49 0.196 0.0070 12.11 20.35 311.13
1.000 1 17.92 0.136 0.0077 12.21 20.48 311.10
1.100 1 12.46 0.098 0.0080 12.29 20.58 311.08
1.200 1 8.86 0.074 0.0085 12.34 20.65 311.06
1.300 1 7.00 0.060 0.0087 12.39 20.71 311.05
Peak Discharge Breach – xxxx_PRESCRIBED_BREACH.OUT
Instantaneous Breach Prescribed Rate Breach
TIME DISCHARGE TIME DISCHARGE
(HRS) (CFS OR CMS) (HRS) (CFS OR CMS)

0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0.1001 229.80 0.6001 24.22
0.2002 209.36 0.7001 56.40
0.3001 180.70 0.8001 121.08
0.4002 131.17 0.9001 183.50
0.5001 77.50 1.0002 204.26
0.6001 46.34 1.1003 182.31
0.7001 30.05 1.2000 133.37
0.8002 19.88 1.3003 82.21
0.9001 15.84 1.4003 54.11
1.0003 12.65 1.5001 43.83
1.1002 10.29 1.6005 30.58
1.2003 1.90 1.7003 13.02
1.8003 11.97
1.9000 11.22
2.0004 10.60
 Evacuated Grid Element – EVACUATEDFP.OUT
THE FOLLOWING FLOODPLAIN ELEMENTS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED OF VOLUME AND THE DISCHARGES ADJUSTED TO ELIMINATE ANY
NEGATIVE VOLUME RESULTS:

MORE FLOW IS GOING OUT OF THE ELEMENTS THAN IS STORED ON THE CELL OR IS INFLOW TO THE CELL. THIS MAY CAUSE
NUMERICAL SURGING

CHECK ELEVATIONS AND POSSIBLY INCREASE SHALLOW N-VALUES FOR THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS

ELEMENT NUMBER OF EVACUATIONS

2673 4
3613 1
4784 9
5163 1
7361 10

Increase n-values, TOL values, review elevations

 Post Simulation Review
Review Results Output Files Resolution
Review SUMMARY.OUT for fluid volume conservation error and Troubleshoot data files if VC error > 0.0001 percent.
SEDCONSERV.OUT for sediment transport volume conservation. Various data revision options are available.
Volume conservation

Review unreasonable maximum velocities. Files: VELTIMEFP.OUT, Reduced timesteps, increase n-values, adjust elevations
Numerical stability SUPER.OUT, ROUGH.OUT, TIME.OUT
Review xxxx_PRESCRIBED_BREACHQ.OUT, BREACH.OUT for Slow the model down with lower Courant numbers,
Breach hydrograph, peak Q unreasonable peak discharge and surging. increase n-values at breach element and in the reservoir.

Plot maximum fluid and mudflow depths DEPFP.OUT and For unreasonable maximum depths and if the area of
Area of inundation, maximum depth DEPFPMAX_MUD.OUT in MAXPLOT. inundation is too large/small - adjust n-values, elevations,
and limit scour depth.
Review EVACUATEDFP.OUT for the number of cells and occurrences. Model may terminate - address problem grid elements with
Evacuated grid elements Check for early model termination (does not reach simulation time). elevation and n-value revisions. Increase TOL(i) for that
element.

Plot final fluid (FINALDEP.OUT) and mudflow depths Flow should be essentially stopped, final depths should be
(FINALDEP_MUD.OUT) and velocities (FINALVEL.OUT and shallow. If not, run simulation for longer duration, increase
Final flow depths/velocities n-values, review scour depths.
FINALVEL_MUD.OUT) in MAXPLOT.
Plot maximum fluid/mudflow concentrations (CVFPMAX.OUT and Maximum fluid concentrations should be less than 30%;
CVFPMAX_MUD.OUT) in MAXPLOT. maximum mudflow concentrations < 60%. Check surging,
Maximum sediment concentrations slow down model, select alternate sediment transport
equation, review mudflow parameters.

Plot final fluid/mudflow sediment concentrations (FINALCVFP.OUT and If there are unreasonable sediment concentrations in final
FINALCVFP_MUD.OUT) in MAXPLOT. flow depths (ceased flowing), select other sediment
Final sediment concentrations transport equation, revise mudflow parameters, slow
model down,

Review SEDFP.OUT and plot the final bed elevations in this file in If final bed scour depths are excessive, select another
MAXPLOT using the SEDIMENT menu command at the top of the equation of assign reasonable scour depth limitation (E-line
Scour/deposition in SED.DAT).
MAXPLOT screen.
Plot final bed elevations plus mudflow deposits (FINALDEP_MUD.OUT Review where mudflow has ceased flowing and the final
combines with FINALVEL_MUD.OUT) in MAXPLOT using the SEDIMENT bed elevation change associated with the mudflow deposit.
To adjust, edit the mudflow parameters of the tailings
Scour/deposition plus mudflow cessation menu command at the top of the MAXPLOT screen. material.
 Recommendations
Component Adjustment
Instantaneous, prescribed rate, breach erosion. Breach erosion takes a lot of data and not significant
Breach Method benefit. Perform instantaneous and prescribed rates. Try several vertical and horizontal breach rates.
Stored Tailings Concentrations Range 0.4 to 0.55

Sediment Transport Equations Try 3

Tailings Rheological Parameters Fall within range

Conservative for higher depths, viscous flows, 20% higher than water flows, 0.20 for reservoir deep water
n-values (~ order of grid element size)
Tailings rheology; tailings thickness and elevation; original reservoir bed topography; tailings
Data Collection concentration by volume; water surface elevation
 Recommendations
Breach Method
• Instantaneous (Breach rates = 0 W-line of LEVEE.DAT)
• Prescribed Breach Rates (vertical: 5 - 20 ft/hr; horizontal: 20 - 50 ft/hr)
• Skip Dam Breach Erosion – too much data, little benefit, subjective
 Recommendations
Tailings Concentrations
• Measure soil moisture content and size fraction
• Saturated tailings: 0.40 - 0.5
• Dry tailings: 0.45 – 0.56
 Recommendations
Sediment Transport Equations (try 3)
• High: Engelund-Hansen
• Moderate: MPM-Smart
• Low: Karim-Kennedy
 Recommendations
Tailings Rheological Parameters
Collect Laboratory Data on Tailing Samples
• Viscosity and Yield Stress vs. Concentration by Volume
• AMETEK-Brookfield Viscometer (~$5,000 for asphalt)
• Low speeds (1 – 10 sec-1)

Use Existing Relationships

• Stay within bounds
• Glenwood #4 is viscous like wet-cement
Viscosity and Yield Stress vs. Concentration
 Shear Stress vs. Rate of Strain

1 sample Cv Slippage
concentration by
volume Slope = viscosity

Yield Stress
 Recommendations - Approach
Start simple - then develop worst case scenario
• Hydrology: Inflow hydrographs or PMP
• Breach – instantaneous, prescribed rate
• Water only – reservoir storage to define maximum extent of inundation
• Tailings only – reservoir storage
• Vary tailings concentration (XCONC in CONT.DAT)
• Vary tailings rheology (try 2 or 3 relationships)
• Vary sediment transport equations
• Vary n-values downstream (+ or – 20%)
FLO-2D Tailings Dam Tool
Release Volume
 FLO-2D Tailings Dam Tool
Estimate Tailings Release Volume

• Predicts tailings dam failure occurrence

• Predicts release tailings volume (INFLOW.DAT file).

• Based on site and historical information

 To Create Tool:
Analyzed Historical Tailings Dam Failures

Heavy Piping Foundation Design

Source Date Range Earthquake Unknown
Rain Erosion Failure Related
Azam 1910-2009 33% 21% 7% 21% 5% 13%
Strachan 1917-1996 41% 11% 12% 9% 17% 10%
Rico 1917-2005 32% 11% 8% 19% 14% 15%
Tocher 1970-2012* 31% 18% 9% 9% 7% 26%

*only hard rock mining operations

Tailings Dam Release Volume
vs. Dam Height
Model Geometry
Enter Geometry Data and
Material Properties
 FLO-2D
Failure Mode

• Select Hydrologic, Static or Seismic

• Enter data
• Click Create INFLOW.DAT
Hydrologic Failure Mode – Event Tree
 FLO-2D Hydrologic Failure
Hydrologic failure considers the following factors:
• PMF vs. Storage
• Spillway Feature
• Spillway Blockage
• Spillway Routing
• Spillway Capacity
• Breach by Erosion
Static Failure Mode
Event Tree
 FLO-2D Static Failure

Static failure considers the following factors:

• Reservoir Level
• Pore Pressure in Tailings Dam
• Foundation Failure
• Embankment Slope Failure
Seismic Failure Mode Event Tree
 FLO-2D Seismic Failure
Seismic failure considers the following factors:
• Earthquake Loading
• Continuous Liquefiable Layer
• Foundation Liquefaction to Breach
• Crest Deformation to Breach
 Final Product:
INFLOW.DAT File

Required data:
• Failure volume – tool generated
• Failure duration – user select
• Max sediment concentration - user
• FLO-2D inflow grid element - user
• Porosity (default= 0.4) - user
• INFLOW.DAT file format:
- Sediment concentration by volume
- Sediment volume
 0 37478
Using INFLOW.DAT File F
H
0 37478
0.000 0.000 0.000
H 0.060 27.503 0.182
H 0.120 123.765 0.200
• Copy INFLOW.DAT file to project folder H 0.180 261.282 0.290
H 0.240 426.302 0.385
• Run FLOPro model to route the tailings H 0.300 632.577 0.450
H 0.360 907.611 0.490
dam breach hydrograph downstream H 0.420 1127.637 0.500
H 0.480 1278.906 0.465
H 0.540 1347.664 0.387
H 0.570 1368.292 0.335
H 0.600 1375.167 0.295
H 0.630 1368.292 0.260
H 0.660 1347.664 0.230
 Using Tailing Dam Tool
• Run FLO_2PHASE.exe with INFLOW.DAT for SIMUL = 0.01 hrs and TOUT = 0.01
hrs (in CONT.DAT)
• Review SUMMARY.OUT
• Review DAMBREACH_VOLUME.OUT
 Compare Tailing Dam Tool:
Review SUMMARY.OUT and DAMBREACH_VOLUME.OUT
*** INFLOW AND TAILINGS STORAGE (CU METERS) ***
SUMMARY.OUT:
STORED WATER TAILINGS BULKED TAILINGS TOTAL VOLUME

WATER CONTENT (WATER + SEDIMENT)

Bulked – water = tailings solid sediment
INFLOW HYDROGRAPH volume
+ STORED VOLUME : = 45,298.8 m (not adjusted
397449.000 3
for porosity)
67948.200
113247.000 510696.000

Compare with Original Tailings Surface – Final Tailings Surface = Breach tailings sediment
(adjust for porosity)

DAMBREACH_VOLUME.OUT:
TOTAL TAILINGS SEDIMENT VOLUME THROUGH BREACH (AF OR CM): 27250.702

TAILINGS VOLUME LEFT IN RESERVOIR (AF OR CM): 18048.098

TOTAL SEDIMENT VOLUME: 45298.800

60% Tailings went through breach
 New Tailings Dam Model Available
Visit the FLO-2D FTP https://flo-2d.sharefile.com/ to download:

• FLO_2PHASE.exe
• MAXPLOT_2PHASE.exe
• Tailings Dam Breach Modeling.ppt
• Two Phase FLOW for Tailings Dam and Mudflows.doc
Questions?