Volume 3 · Issue 3 (2026)
Seismic Permanent Deformation and Stability Analysis of Tailings Dams Considering Liquefaction Effects
Qiang Ren*, Kai Yan, Ruohang Gang
Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Corresponding Author: Qiang Ren (qren@nhri.cn)
Abstract: Taking the Jiutiaogou Tailings Pond as the research background, the time-history analysis method combined with the equivalent viscoelastic model are adopted to analyze the seismic performance of the tailings dam during the heightening and expansion process from three aspects: permanent deformation prediction, liquefaction potential, and overall stability. The numerical simulation results show that the liquefaction potential zone develops toward the shallow phreatic line area with the increase of dam height, forming a new weak zone; the residual deformation concentrates in the dam crest area, which affects the overall stability. It is suggested that comprehensive treatment measures combining construction process control and soil engineering improvement should be adopted to improve the dynamic overall stability of the heightened tailings dam.
Keywords: Tailings dam; Dynamic response; Liquefaction potential; Overall stability; Heightening and capacity expansion
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