McPhail, GI 2018, 'Beach prediction experience to date: further development and review of the stream power-entropy approach', in RJ Jewell & AB Fourie (eds), Paste 2018: Proceedings of the 21st International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 5-20, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1805_0.2_McPhail
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1805_0.2_McPhail/)
Abstract: Over the past 30 years, several methods for predicting the beaching characteristics of mineral processing tailings slurries have been developed; among these the stream power-entropy approach by the author. Although the initial development of the approach was completed in 1995, continued development and refinement has taken place since this date with its application to high-density slurries on a range of mining operations. Along the way, comparisons between the predicted and the measured beach profiles have been carried out as the beach slopes have developed and these comparisons have pointed the way to further development. This paper presents experience to date with the stream power-entropy approach highlighting the comparisons that have led to further refinement and the refinements implemented to both the approach, as well as laboratory tests and statistical approaches that have been developed to provide the required slurry data.

Keywords: tailings, beaching, stream power, entropy, beach slope, beach profile