Abstract

The new legislation in Brazil has brought more attention to the technique of stacking filtered iron ore tailings for mining waste disposal. To minimize the risk of liquefaction, it's important to maintain the compacted structure in an unsaturated condition. This requires knowledge of the hydraulic characteristics of the material in order to evaluate the long-term performance of the embankment and design an adequate monitoring system. One way to track the material's behavior in the field is through electrical resistivity techniques. Using an electrical resistivity measurement system at various frequencies and current levels, we evaluated the behaviour of compacted iron ore waste. The examined tailings have been deposited in filtered tailings piles, which are intended to exceed a height of 100 meters. This study aims to investigate the electrical response of the material to different levels of water content, degree of saturation and suction. It was possible to establish good correlations between electrical resistivity and factors such as suction, degree of saturation, and water content. It was also identified an association between the electrical resistivity and the optimum water content

Abstract

The evaluation of safety conditions in dams is of utmost importance to ensure stability and often involves subsurface investigation methods. Geophysical methods have emerged as a modern and relevant alternative, often more practical than traditional direct methods. This study aims to integrate the application and interpretation of resistivity and selfpotential methods to identify preferential flow paths in a small earth dam. The investigation was conducted at a dam located on the Viçosa Campus of the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), with three main soil layers: embankment, silty clay, and alluvium. Analysis of the results revealed potential conductive zones and negative spontaneous potential anomalies, suggesting the occurrence of piping and the presence of buried structures in the spillway area. Moreover, the geophysical investigation methodology proved effective in evaluating geotechnical characteristics and flow conditions of the dam, contributing to the foundation for future safety and stability analyses of the structure.

Abstract

The evaluation of safety conditions in dams is of utmost importance to ensure stability and often involves subsurface investigation methods. Geophysical methods have emerged as a modern and relevant alternative, often more practical than traditional direct methods. This study aims to integrate the application and interpretation of resistivity and selfpotential methods to identify preferential flow paths in a small earth dam. The investigation was conducted at a dam located on the Viçosa Campus of the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), with three main soil layers: embankment, silty clay, and alluvium. Analysis of the results revealed potential conductive zones and negative spontaneous potential anomalies, suggesting the occurrence of piping and the presence of buried structures in the spillway area. Moreover, the geophysical investigation methodology proved effective in evaluating geotechnical characteristics and flow conditions of the dam, contributing to the foundation for future safety and stability analyses of the structure.