Use of
geosynthetic
products
in Tailing dams
About Strata
• Established over two decades ago, in
partnership with Glen Raven Inc., a 140-
year-old global leader in technical and
performance textiles
• Pioneer in polyester-based soil industry
• Provides the highest quality of
geosynthetics and civil engineering
solutions
• Has offices in the India, Spain, US, Brazil,
and UK.
*Strata has an associate office in Brazil.
Presence in more than 50 countries
And offices in
• India
• Spain
• US
• Brazil
• UK
A world-class
plant to support
all your
manufacturing
needs
spread over
320,000 sq. ft.
International government bodies that have
used Strata’s products for various projects:
AASHTO – NTPEP, USA
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), USA
US Department of Transportation (USDOT),USA
Laboratory US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE), USA
Regional Municipality of York, Canada
The Road Authority, Ontario, Canada
certifications The Canadian National Railways, Canada
Departamento Nacional de Infraestrutura de Transportes (DNIT), Brazil
The Jordan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR), Jordan
Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC), Jordan Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI), Jordan
Ministry of Housing (MOH), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Eastern Province Municipality, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Certified by Geosynthetic Accreditation Institute - Royal Oman Police (ROP), Sultanate of Oman
Laboratory Accreditation Program (Worldwide) Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Sultanate of Oman
Abu Dhabi Municipality (ADM), UAE
Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC), UAE
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), UAE
The Albanian Road Authority (ARA), Albania
The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), Norway
Hampshire County Council, UK
Essex Highways, Essex County Council, UK
Road Development Authority (RDA), Sri Lanka
Public Works Department (JKR), Brunei
Ministry of Development (MOD), Brunei
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippines
NABL certified (India) The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), New Zealand
Indian government bodies that have used
Strata’s products for various projects: NHAI, Railways, BRO & Various PWDs
Product
certifications
Efficient Achieved CE mark
(Worldwide)
ISO 9001, ISO 14001,
and ISO 45001
Approved
by ISI
delivery, (Worldwide)
ratified by
global
benchmarking
authorities
Certified by the NTPEP certified NZ Transport
British Board of Agrément (US) Agency
(UK, Europe, Middle East)
Strata has received the following
endorsements from across the globe
Strata is a global leader in geosynthetic
manufacturing and geotechnical
engineering, delivering innovative products
and solutions for major site development
challenges worldwide.
Why geosynthetics?
• Minimise the use of our natural
resources
Highly engineered
• Reduce carbon footprint polymeric materials,
enabling sustainable,
• Enable rapid construction cost effective
construction replacing
• Ensure the longer life of the structure
naturally occurring
resources.
• Cost saving
• What are tailings?
• Types of failure in Tailing dams
• Codal Recommendations
Tailing Dams • Tailing dam mitigation
• Comparison of Various Filter Media
• Advantage of Drainage Composite over Conventional Method
• StrataDrain™ ’s advantages in front of a granular drainage layer
• Benefits of using StrataDrain™ in Tailing Dam
What are tailings?
`
• The Fine particles of left overs from mineral processing are waste, called
“tailings”.
• Tailings slurry is discharged behind engineered dams designed to contain the
material. Solids are allowed to settle in the impoundment while process water is
typically reclaimed.
• A tailings dam is a structure in mining that stores waste materials, called
tailings, produced during mineral extraction and processing. It is designed to
contain and manage these waste materials to prevent environmental
contamination and protect nearby areas.
`
Types of failure in Tailing dams
Major causes of tailing dam failure are:
• Seepage
• Foundation Failure
• Overtopping
• Earthquake
• Slope instability
• Other factors
Tailing dam failure due to drainage?
• A primary concern accompanying the use of tailings for embankment construction is the
control of pore water pressure within and beneath the embankment.
• Excessive pore pressure within the embankment may lead to exceedance of the shear
strength of the fill material, resulting in local or general slope failure.
Tailing dam failure due to drainage?
• Additionally, high pore pressures within or beneath the embankment face may result in
uncontrolled seepage at the dam face leading to piping failure.
Tailing dam failure due to drainage?
• Similarly, seepage through weak permeable layers of the foundation may result in piping or
exceedance of soil shear strength, causing foundation subsidence and compromising the
stability of the overlying embankment.
• These embankment stability may be partially reduced through seepage control.
• Seepage control may be affected through the establishment of zones of differing
permeability up-stream of, beneath, and within the embankment, either through drainage
systems or low permeability layers or cores, or both.
DRY = SAFE
Codal Recommendations
Codal Recommendations
Tailing dam mitigation due to drainage
A drainage system must have the following features:
1. A filter to prevent loss of particles from the dam or foundation.
2. A drainage layer to convey the water from the filter.
3. An outlet to exit water from drainage layers.
Tailing dam mitigation due to drainage
• Chimney drains and blanket drains each composed of materials of permeability at least two
orders of magnitude greater than of the embankment fill.
• Performance of drainage system depends on the prevention of the clogging.
• Filter zones or filters can be used to prevent clogging and constructed of graded sand
filter or synthetic filter fabrics.
Tailing dam mitigation due to drainage
Finger drains are like blanket drains but are not continuous. They can be used in areas of high
seepage (e.g., where water is designed to be against the upstream face.)
Tailing dam mitigation for seepage control
Lining of TSF to limit foundation
seepage using liner systems such
as geomembrane liner or
composite liner along with
drainage layers to reduce the
hydrostatic pressure on the lining
system.
a) Structure where the
geomembrane liner reaches
the top of the dam.
b) Structure where the liner is
located underneath the dam
and reaches the collection
pond for seepage waste.
Tailing dam mitigation for seepage control
Image courtesy to EAGM
Detail of Drainage Composite
StrataDrain™
Changing the World of Drainage
Composites
• StrataDrain™, is a drainage composite that comprises of HDPE Geonet • 3.8 m and 1.9 m wide
core laminated with non-woven geotextiles, on one or both sides.
• Laminate in PP geotextile
• The non-woven geotextile functions as a separator, filter and for from 90 to 1000 gsm
protection allowing liquid and gases to pass into the geonet core
• Best transmissibility
preventing from clogging the core. The geonet then collects and allows
the flow of liquid and gases to collection system. properties in all load
bearing situations.
• StrataDrain™ is very useful in various applications of different sectors
such as landfill, mining and civil works.
StrataDrain™ Product Range
StrataDrain™ SD StrataDrain™ TD StrataDrain™ HF
Adaptability in all applications High performance in high The best option for Landfill
pressure cappings
Laying
of StrataDrain™
Comparison of Various Filter Media
Properties Geocomposite Granular Filter
Mass per unit area 710 g/m2 Variable gradation
Thickness > 5 mm 600 mm
0.15 mm (O90) (available in less pore
Pore Size 13.2 mm (D85)
sizes based on site requirements)
400 kPa of stress, the flow rate is 0.4335 l/m.s, but when get clogged
In-Plane Flow rate
0.75 l/m.s the flow rate decreases
Permeability 0.10 m/sec > 0.008 m/sec
CBR Puncture
2400 N NA
resistance
Tensile Strength 11.5 kN/m NA
Advantage of Drainage Composite over
Conventional Method
Properties CONVENTIONAL METHOD SOLUTION WITH DC ADVANTAGE OF DC
Filter Graded filter by mixing range of Geotextile layer at the base acts Better filter function because of
soil particle sizes from gravel to as filter. controlled quality.
silt
Drainage The drainage will be provided by The drainage net will do the A much thicker drainage layer
a layer of granular material function of draining off the can be replaced with a thin layer
which is liable to get clogged water with geotextile layer of geocomposite performing
over a period resulting in acting as a filter which will not equal or better for the required
decrease in performance. allow clogging to occur. drainage function.
Quality Material quantity and quality High level of consistency in Better and consistent quality
tend to differ along the length of quality and is maintained,
the drainage due to
construction, sourcing and
human error issues
Ease of Construction would be difficult, Construction is simple as it is Faster and economical
Construction especially laying the granular very easy to lay the construction
material and slurry seal on the geocomposite along the beds
sloping banks. and banks.
StrataDrain’s Advantages in front of a
granular drainage layer
StrataDrain System Traditional Solution (Gravel)
StrataDrain™ is more economical, and it is easier and faster to install than the traditional solution.
Savings in transportation and storage. One High transportation and storage cost (voluminous materials):
truck can transport 8,000 to 10,000 To be able to drain a surface of 10000 m2 with a 40cm thick
Sq.m of StrataDrain™, which allows the same layer of granular material there will be a need of 4000 m3 of
surface to be drained. material, which will have to be transported by 260 trucks
(assuming 15 m3 each truck).
Benefits of using StrataDrain™ in Tailing Dam
Overall, the geocomposite drain system is cost effective, easy to install thus
enables faster construction.
Allowing more Saving the carbon Allows the water flow An economical solution
storage capacity footprint outside the tailing dam
Can be easily laid on Leakage detection Allows rapid construction Eliminate the need of
any slope inclination conventional natural
materials
Aggregates natural vs. geosynthetics
`
Gravel-Clean sands Sands Clays
Geonet Geotextile Geomembrane/GCL
If Combining both the properties of geosynthetics
`
Main functions
` Hydraulic functions
Flow normal to the plane of Flow parallel to the plane of
geosynthetics geosynthetics
Filtration + Drainage functions
Mechanical functions
Separation + Protection functions
`
Drainage Geocomposites-Hydraulic Parameters
The drainage capacity of the geocomposite is obtained experimentally according to the ASTM
D4716 standard by using specific equipment that measures the behavior under the following
factors:
• Hydraulic Gradient/Drain Plane Angle
• Normal pressure on the geocomposite
• Boundary conditions:
• Simulated: materials are reproduced
using plates made of different
materials:
• Hard plates: steel, HDPE or
similar
• Soft plates: neoprene or similar
• Real: construction materials are used
Tailing dams
Placing of
StrataDrain™
Picture courtesy - Intermas
Failures of prominent dams
Jagersfontein
dam failure,
South Africa 2022
Failures of prominent dams
Brumadinho,
Brazil 2019
Failures of prominent dams
The earthen dam (middle) is 130
feet tall (the breach is at far left).
The area between the dam and
the lake was totally forested prior
to the breach. The force of the
spill widened tiny Hazeltine creek
from about 1.5 meters wide to
over 100 meters wide.
Mount Polley Copper
- Gold mine, Canada
From Soil to Structure
Strata is a trusted resource for geotechnical expertise globally.
StrataGrid™
Largest geogrid
manufacturer in India
StrataWeb®
First geocell
manufacturer in India
Impeccable
Manufacturing
StrataTex HSR™
High-performance
knitted geotextile
StrataDrain™
High performance
drainage composite
StrataGrid TM
Polyester, flexible, high-performance geogrid.
• High performance soil reinforcement solution, both Properties:
vertical and horizontal • 5.7 m wide
• Uniaxial and Biaxial series • Strength up to 600 kN
• Guarantees a structure life of more than 100 years • Elongation: less than 10%
• Industry leading elongation and stress strain values
Applications
Reinforced Embankment Pavement Vertical
soil walls over soft soils Stabilization containment/Steep
slopes for landfill
Reinforced soil walls
StrataBlock™ StrataWall™ EC StrataSlope™
Modular concrete block A safe and economical Vegetated slope up to
fascia with StrataGrid™ retaining wall solution 70o with StrataGrid™
that won’t rust.
StrataBlock™
India
StrataWeb ®
HDPE geocells
Properties:
• HDPE cellular confinement system • ESCR performance >
• Engineered texturing and perforations for high 5,000 hours
friction and drainage properties • High weld strength with
• Available in a variety of widths, lengths, heights, max. consistency
and colours • Full technical support
Applications
Load support Reinforced soil Slope erosion
Load support
Yangon, Myanmar
StrataTex HSR™
Polyester, flexible, high-performance
knitted geotextile.
• StrataTex HSR™ is manufactured using a high-grade polyester Properties:
yarn with special high tenacity and low creep properties • 5.2 m wide
knitted into a stable network.
• Strength up to 800 kN/m
• Uniaxial and Biaxial series
• High molecular weight
• Low CEG number less than 30
(>25000 g/ mol)
• Low creep
• Strata process ensures superior quality, consistency and
dimensional stability
Applications
Embankment over Load transfer platform Paved roads Unpaved roads
soft soils and void spanning
ATARFIL HD
HDPE
High Density Polyethylene
• Selected raw material, 100% virgin resin Properties: (GRI GM 13)
• Use of state-of-the-art technology in manufacturing by
calendaring, guaranteeing the finish and long-term • Roll Width –
performance of the material. 6.0/6.3/7.5m
• Technical values and properties well above standards • SCR - > 3,000 h
• (Multiaxial strength Tensile strength OIT UV resistance) • HP OIT 500min
• STD OIT – 120 min
ATARFIL TMT
HDPE
High Density Polyethylene
Properties: (GRI GM 13)
• Selected raw material, 100% virgin resin • Roll Width – 6.0/6.3/7.5m
• Use of state-of-the-art technology in manufacturing by • SCR - > 3,000 h
calendaring, guaranteeing the finish and long-term
performance of the material. • HP OIT 500min
• Technical values and properties well above standards • STD OIT – 120 min
(Multiaxial strength Tensile strength OIT UV resistance) • Asperity Height – 0.6
(0.45mm)
Water
Water
Mining
Mining
The three verticals
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Manufacturing Design Excellence
370,000 sqft > 100 plant 35 designers > 5 types 40 Project 200
manufacturing employees of engineers managers engineers
unit
• One important vertical for Strata is
design consultancy strength
Dedicated to • Highly qualified team with 20+
MTech engineers specializing in
Design geotechnical engineering
• Global design standards and
software
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2000+ 1500+ 75+
Projects Direct and Indirect Projects under
completed Employees construction
Some of our clients
Worked with the top road builders in India and several international bodies and have been
approved by most of the consultants.
Thank you!
Strata Geosystems (India) Pvt. Ltd,
Email ID: info@strataindia.com
Tel No: 022-4063 5100
Website: www.strataglobal.com
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