Water Resources and Power

In order to study the impact of the dam break of the Huiling tailings pond in Guangxi on the downstream region, a three-dimensional model of the tailings pond region conforming to the actual terrain was established with the help of GOCAD and Rhino software. In addition, PFC3D discrete element simulation software was used to simulate the state of dam break when the tailings pond runs to the final accumulation elevation +490 m, and the possible submerged range of tailings discharge and the area affected by tailings debris flow were analyzed. The results show that the evolution rate of tailings debris flow increases rapidly to the maximum value in a short time after dam break, and then decreases gradually. The farther away from the dam site, the faster the reduction of tailings debris flow evolution rate is. When the evolution time of dam break is 1 100 s, the furthest evolution distance of tailings is 1 215 m at the foot of tailings dam, the maximum width of the drainage body is 853 m, and the maximum depth is about 30 m. In the process, many sensitive points are submerged. The research provides decision-making information for early warning, personnel evacuation and flood relief of tailings pond accident.