68th Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 7th Canadian Permafrost Conference

MODEL BEARING CAPACITY TESTS IN A LARGE LABORATORY SIMULATION OF POLYMER AMENDED MFT

Session: Mining Geotechnique IV / Géotechnique minière IV

Liza Rozina, Carleton University (Canada)
Shabnam Mizani, Student (Canada)
Momin Malek, Student (Canada)
Paul Simms, Supervisor/Professor (Canada)

This paper investigates the increase in undrained shear strength and bearing capacity in a laboratory simulation of multilayer deposition of in-line flocculated oil sand mature fine tailings (MFT). Vane shear tests were conducted before the deposition of each new layer. From these tests, the tailings, demonstrated relatively high shear strength in a comparably short period of dewatering time, reaching an undrained shear strength of > 5kPa, once they were dried out to 55-60% solids concentration in the top layer. Plate load tests were performed directly on the tailings, after the top layer was dried to approximately 60% and 70% solids concentrations, with a circular plate with a diameter of 10.5cm. The model bearing capacity tests results were compared to values obtained using the effective stress approach without and with considering the influence of matric suction.