To investigate why tailings piping break, identify the mechanisms of tailings dam breaches, and discover how mine tailings flood behave, a large-scale physical model of a tailings reservoir was constructed. The model tailings dam was breached and this breaching test was used to study dam breaching and the resulting tailings flood. The results show that a scour channel is formed in the dam by piping and then the upper portion of the dam collapses and lateral scour occurs. The breach goes through three stages: channel expansion, longitudinal undercutting, and transverse expansion. On the basis of these three stages, seven stages of dam breaching are proposed. The velocity of the tailings flood decreases logarithmically with distance. Three stages of dam breaking that include impact velocity, density, and burial depth are proposed based on a power function impact force model. Tailings flood undercut and erode near the dam and tailings are deposited farther away. The tailings flood direction changes at a bend and erosion occurs along the outer side of the bend while tailings are deposited near the inner side. Suggestions for tailings dam protection are put forward. The above research results provide an experimental and theoretical basis for disaster prevention and mitigation of tailings pond issues.

为了研究尾矿管道破裂的原因，确定尾矿坝溃坝的机制，并发现尾矿溢流的行为方式，构建了尾矿库的大型物理模型。模型尾矿坝被破坏，该破坏试验用于研究大坝破坏和由此产生的尾矿洪水。结果表明，管道在大坝内形成冲刷通道，然后大坝上部坍塌，发生侧向冲刷。破口经历三个阶段：通道扩展、纵向底切和横向扩展。在这三个阶段的基础上，提出了七个溃坝阶段。尾矿泛滥的速度随距离呈对数下降。溃坝的三个阶段，包括冲击速度、密度、和埋藏深度是基于幂函数冲击力模型提出的。尾矿在大坝附近被淹没和侵蚀，尾矿沉积在更远的地方。尾矿流向在弯道处发生变化，沿弯道外侧发生侵蚀，而尾矿沉积在弯道内侧附近。提出了尾矿坝保护的建议。上述研究成果为尾矿库问题的防灾减灾提供了实验和理论依据。