1D and 2D site response analysis for an existing tailings storage facility

September 26, 2024

Failure of tailings dams due to liquefaction, caused by earthquakes, is an important consideration for dam design in high seismic regions. To assess the potential impact of a design earthquake event, 1D and 2D site response analyses for an existing Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) in Ecuador were conducted, as presented in this paper. A Deterministic Seismic Hazard Analysis (DSHA) completed for the site showed that the major contributors to the local seismic hazard are due to a nearby crustal fault, and an intraslab seismic source zone beneath the project site. A suite of seven representative ground motions was developed for each seismic scenario. Those motions were scaled and compared with the target spectra developed from the DSHA. This paper aims to present the results from a 1D analysis of a column, which extends from the crest down to the bedrock of a selected cross-section, in comparison with the corresponding results from a 2D site response analysis.

Salehnia, F. and V.Nguyen. 2024. “1D and 2D Site Response Analysis for an Existing Tailings Storage Facility,” in Proceedings of GeoMontreal 2024. Resilient Geosciences for Future Generations, 15-18 September 2024, Montreal, QC.