Influence of particle size scale on mechanical properties of tailings under high pressure

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Abstract
The particle size plays an important role in affecting the mechanical properties of tailings materials. The mechanics and crushing characteristics of tailings when the pressure is high are the research basis of high tailings dams. Tailings with different particle sizes were tested for laboratory high-pressure triaxial compression. The effect of particle size on the compression characteristics of tailings was studied. The strength and deformation of tailings with different particle sizes were investigated. Based on particle size gradation, the crushing characteristics of tailings were analyzed quantitatively. A mathematical model of crushing indices and strength of tailings was established. The results show that under high pressure, shearing contraction failure occurs in the tailings samples. The stress-strain relation of tailings shows strain-softening when the confining pressure is low and continuous hardening when the confining pressure is high. The confining pressure at which the stress-strain relation of the tailings samples changes from strain softening to hardening increases with the increased particle sizes. Due to the higher degree of particle crushing for coarse tailings during the shearing under high pressure, the volume deformation of the coarse samples decreases continuously more greatly. It shows increase in the amount of particle breakage as the confining pressure, but the increase rate decreased with the confining pressure increased. The Boxlucas loading accumulation model was used to describe the change of particle breakage with the confining pressure. The peak strength of tailings increased exponentially with the improved relative crushing rate.

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