Study on tailings sand flow pattern about a tailings dam failure in Yunnan Province

Once the dam failure occurs,water and tailings sand will mix together and pour out as the form of debris flow,which endangers the lives of downstream people and causing huge property damage.A theoretical calculation of the movement patterns about tailings dam break flow is made based on the existing hydraulics formula.According to the calculated results,under different heights and different widths conditions,the relationship curves about the tailings maximum flow,the tailings sand depth of each downstream cross section,arrival time,the velocity of the maximum tailings flow as well as the impact force are drawn.The analysis is also presented,which provides a basis for tailing dam management and dam failure prevention.