Hydro and geomechanical stability assessment of the bund wall bottom slope of the Dniprovsk tailing dump

Purpose. The objective is to assess the stability of bund wall components of a hydro-technical structure under the conditions of a tailing dump which hydrodynamic mode has been disrupted during operation. The specified data on the geomechanical state, physical and mechanical properties have been used of both the bund wall material and that of the soil base. Methods. Mathematical modeling by means of finite element method has been used to assess the hydro and geomechanical stability of bund wall components of a tailing dump (flood-breaking dam). The most reliable software Phase 2 v.8.0 was used for simulating. The modeling takes into consideration the influence of hydrostatic weighing forces and hydrodynamic pressure as well as nonstabilized state of water-logged rocks in the bund wall body. Findings. Based on the results of assessments, geomechanical stability margin of the bund wall components of a tailing dump has been determined. It has been shown that on an equal height of the bund wall, the areas with insigni-ficant angles of bottom slopes horizontal equivalent are characterized by the greater stability margin, and their resistance to shear deformation factor is comparable to the strength of alluvial sands shear in the base of a dam. In this context, stability margin is connected with the controlling influence on the bund wall state of water-logged soils, located above the ground water table in the dam body. Originality. It has been determined that the hydro and geomechanical state of the bund wall components of the hydro and technical structure is influenced by the occurrence within the bounds of the tailing dump bund wall of alternately water-logged rock material intervals located above the ground water fixed position. Practical implications. The results of modeling the tailing dump hydro and geomechanical state, which consider the multifactor conditioning of hydrodynamic and deformation processes in a body of the bund wall components, are the basis to substantiate a complex of engineering measures directed at the ensuring further safe operation of the hydro and technical structure.