@inproceedings{1363_38_Fitton, author={Fitton, TG and Slatter, PT}, editor={Jewell, R and Fourie, AB and Caldwell, J and Pimenta, J}, title={A tailings beach slope model featuring plug flow}, booktitle={Paste 2013: Proceedings of the 16th International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings}, date={2013}, publisher={Australian Centre for Geomechanics}, location={Perth}, pages={493-503}, abstract={It has been observed that plug flow can occur in the open channels that naturally form on a tailings beach if the tailings slurry is sufficiently thickened. Plug flow occurs when a yield stress fluid develops an unsheared zone (or plug) in the centre of a channel, pipe or other conduit. It is caused when the yield stress of the slurry is greater than the shear stresses that are acting on it. This paper presents a new tailings beach slope prediction model that incorporates a plug flow model. The beach slope model is validated using flume data from Chuquicamata, Sunrise Dam and Peak Gold Mine, as well as a range of full scale beach data from some 29 real tailings beaches. It has been found that reasonably accurate predictions are achieved. }, doi={10.36487/ACG_rep/1363_38_Fitton}, url={https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1363_38_Fitton/} }