Applying the material point method to dam break assessment of a closed tailings storage facility

Authors: Song, K; Llano-Serna, M; Seyedan, S Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_143

Cite As:
Song, K, Llano-Serna, M & Seyedan, S 2026, 'Applying the material point method to dam break assessment of a closed tailings storage facility', in AB Fourie, G Boggs, J Heyes & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2026: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 1-4, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_143



Abstract:
Tailings dam failures pose a significant hazard to downstream communities and the environment. Effective risk management of dam failures requires accurate assessment. Conventional approaches include widely used empirical, depth-averaged models, as well as simplified continuum-based numerical methods. These conventional approaches are computationally efficient but often rely on significant simplifications, may overestimate runout extent, which is not necessarily conservative and fail to capture realistic flow behaviour. This study applies the material point method (MPM) and a volume balance-based empirical approach to evaluate potential sunny-day dam breach consequences of a closed tailings storage facility (TSF). Both approaches are intended to represent the same clear-weather failure consequence scenario. The empirical approach provides a simplified estimate of runout based on volume balance assumptions and is not formulated to explicitly represent material strength degradation, pore pressure effects, or progressive deformation mechanisms. In contrast, the MPM simulation incorporates soils shear strength and largedeformation soil–water interaction, thereby providing a more realistic representation of tailings runout behaviour. The analysis is limited to clear-weather conditions and does not consider additional run-out associated with rainfall or flooding-induced entrainment. The results of the study show that MPM provides realistic predictions of post-failure deposition patterns while maintaining reliability. These findings highlight the value of MPM as a robust and strong tool for assessing the residual risk of closed TSFs and for bridging the gap between simplified industry tools and real tailings flow behaviour.

Keywords: tailings storage facility, dam break assessment, MPM

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