Effect of Binder Content and Load History on the One-dimensional Compression of Williams Mine Cemented Paste Backfill

• Main Author: Jamali-Firouz-Abadi, Maryam
• Other Authors: Grabinsky, Murray
• Language: en_ca
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Civil Engineering; Mining; Compression behaviour; Cemented Paste Backfill; Mine tailings; consolidation test; 0543
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/35326

Large voids created by underground mining are backfilled to provide regional ground support. This thesis examines using conventional oedometer techniques and electromagnetic (EM) techniques to characterize consolidation and binder hydration in mine backfill so that EM monitoring can be used in the field to provide real-time feedback to operators to optimize the backfilling process. New techniques are given for interpreting the full range of deformation (initial compression, primary and secondary consolidation). Deformation due to initial compression is non-trivial and may have to be accounted for in numerical back-analyses of field case studies. EM parameters are sensitive to binder content, progress of hydration and loss of water caused by consolidation and binder hydration. The integrated interpretation of consolidation and EM behaviours has significant potential impact on real-time monitoring of mine backfill operations, and recommendations are made to advance the technique for this purpose.