University of British Columbia

Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering

Mine 380 – Mine Waste Management

Mine 590Q – Advanced Mine Waste Management
Term 2 2022/2023 W

Assignment 3 – Seepage and Slope Stability Analyses using GeoStudio

Due Date: March 24, 2023 at 11:59pm Vancouver time

Note:
This is a Group assignment. Teams of three or four students are set randomly by the computer and can
be visualized in Canvas. Only one report (PDF file) shall be submitted and will be accepted per Team.
However, each Team member would have to upload the same report individually into Canvas. iPeer
evaluations or equivalent may be used to ensure equitable and fair joint effort and collaboration among all
team members.

Requirement:
Student version of GeoStudio 2022.1 (https://www.geoslope.com/learning/downloads). Tutorial videos by
Geo-Slope Intl’ on YouTube are a good source of step-by-step guide for building the model and defining
material properties. A tutorial session on seepage and stability analysis will be held by Stuart Li (TA) on
March 7, 2023 during regular lecture class hours in FF303. The use of SEEP/W and SLOPE/W will be
covered.

Scenario:
You have been asked to evaluate the seepage and slope stability for a downstream raised tailings dam,
having the simplified cross-section presented below. Review the geometry of the proposed tailings dam and
complete the assignment as described below.

Figure 1. Simplified cross-section of an actual TSF embankment

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Figure 1 above is a simplified cross-section of an actual TSF embankment, to account for the limitations of
the student software license; as such, the foundations materials are considered to be impervious and have
shear strength properties of bedrock. The dimensions given are approximate and the model should be
constructed to similar dimensions, to a practical extent. The downstream and upstream slopes of the
embankment dam are approximately 2H:1V.

The reclaim water pond is located against the upstream face of the embankment, with a maximum depth of
about 2 m; a total head boundary condition should be imposed on the surface lines of the tailings and
embankment materials, as illustrated in Figure 2. A potential seepage face boundary condition should also
be added to the entire downstream face.

Hint: Images can be imported into GeoStudio and scaled appropriately to facilitate model construction. The
figure above can therefore be placed in the background for drawing the geometry (and then simply hidden).
This process will be illustrated in Lecture 8.1. The slope stability model will only be completed for the
static analysis due to the limitations of the student license.

Material Parameters:
The material properties for the seepage analysis (SEEP/W) should be set using a saturated/non-saturated
model. The hydraulic conductivity function for each material can be derived using the built-in estimations
of volumetric water content curves (VWC) for each type of soil.
- For the low-permeability core, use the clay function
- For the shell zone, use the silty sand function
- For the tailings material, use the silt function

Frictio Cohesion Unit Saturated Mv Saturated Residual

n weight water hydraulic water
angle content conductivit content
(kPa) (1/kPa) y kx, (m/s)
(°) (kN/m3) (m3/m3) (m3/m3)
Shell (silty sand) 32.5 0 21 0.4 0.0005 2e-7 0.05
Low-permeability
30 5 19.5 0.35 0.0005 1e-8 0.05
core (clay)
Tailings (silt) 33 0 16 0.4 0.0005 5e-7 0.05
Note: the shear strength values provided above are for effective strength

Exercise:
Enter the geometry and material properties of the tailings dam in GeoStudio and add a drainage blanket
for each of the following three cases and locations stated below (cases A, B, C).

Case A. No drain (as in the figure above)

Case B. A 20-m long drain along the base of the embankment starting from the downstream toe.
Case C. A 45-m long drain along the base of the embankment starting from the downstream toe

Note: In GeoStudio, a drain can be simulated by defining a boundary condition (on SEEP/W) with Zero
Pressure along a line. The location of the drain is shown in the detail below (Figure 2).

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 Total head boundary condition

Simulated drain along base of embankment

Figure 2. Location of the horizontal drain

A report shall be submitted that includes the following discussion points and solutions:

1. What is the impact of drain presence or length on flux value and shape of the phreatic surface?
Discuss in detail in your report (maximum 500 words).
2. Evaluate the Factor of Safety (FoS) of the tailings dam embankment using maximum 2 significant
figures. What is the impact of the phreatic surface location in the overall stability of the tailings
dam? Discuss in detail in your report (maximum 500 words).
3. If the structure is considered unstable, what can be done to increase the FoS? Briefly discuss the
material properties and the design of the cross section. How would you redesign the cross-section
to improve its stability with minimum amount of added material? Please submit in your report
this discussion (maximum 500 words) and a sketch with the suggested additional improvement(s)
hand-drawn (or drawn in a software) over the current cross-section, identifying and labeling the
new structural element(s).
4. List and discuss i) the challenges you may face, and ii) the quality controls you may need to
implement in the field, in order to build a high-quality clay core, as presented in Figure 1
(maximum 500 words).

Suggested sequence to complete the assignment:

• Check out Lecture 8.1 (in class, with TA).
• Set up the model.
• Run the model for the various scenarios.
• For the seepage model (SEEP/W), plot PWP and Total Head.
• For the stability model (SLOPE/W), plot the FoS for the critical slip surface. Ensure that you
select a slip surface relevant in terms of raising a concern for the overall stability instead of
just a localized failure. (Note: the software allows the user to define a minimum depth of the
slip surface)
• Prepare and include all the discussion points at questions 1, 2, 3, and 4 above; add the
necessary sketch(es) and submit one report per Group, in PDF format.
• For Question 4, please refer to past lectures wrt. material placement, etc. in course notes and
references part of MINE 380/590Q in Canvas.
• Group membership noted in Canvas – please check Canvas and start discussions and planning among
team members – the sooner the better.