Effect of shear-induced consolidation on the behaviour of a loose silt tailings

Tailings within a tailings storage facility (TSF) are subjected to monotonic loading and consolidation following tailings depositions into the impoundment and perimeter embankment raises. The aim of the current study was to identify how monotonic loading followed by consolidation influences the behaviour of a loose silt tailings deposit. The study quantified the effect of magnitude and duration of an applied monotonic load on the evolving undrained shear strength using triaxial testing. It also showed that peak undrained shear strengths are reached under lower shear-induced excess pore pressures and axial strains than inferred from standard triaxial testing. While the study showed how tailings benefitted from gains in peak undrained shear strength, it also highlighted some potential negative implications for timely detection of precursors to failure of TSFs by means of conventional monitoring.