Numerical Simulation of the Drainage in a Mining Stope Filled with Hydraulic Backfill

In the mine of this study, cemented hydraulic backfill is placed under the form of a slurry at a percentage of solid by weight varying from 50 to 65 per cent. This slurry settles and cures in the stope. During this process an important amount of water must be drained from the stope. Field observations in the case studied here show that the geometry of the drains system has a significant impact on the drainage of the stopes. The mode of filling produces a backfill showing an evident stratification typical of a sedimentation process. In situ observations on this material show that this stratification translates into a very strong heterogeneity in the physical properties of the cemented backfill. This heterogeneity should affect the hydraulic conductivity of the backfill in the stope. In order to study this aspect, finite element simulations were performed. This paper presents the results of these simulations, where the impact of this stratification on hydraulic conductivity is related to the performance of the backfill drainage system for various geometry. This preliminary study is aimed at providing a better understanding of the role of the drains in the dewatering process of the backfilled stope in the case of this mine.