Abstract
To address the challenges posed by mine waste management, a sustainable approach involves recycling solid waste into raw materials, leading to the creation of various traditional mine backfills, such as cemented rockfills (CRF). Due to their ability to provide high unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and ensure ground stability and control, CRFs are increasingly utilized in the mining industry. However, their diverse composition and complex preparation processes have limited their widespread adoption, and the absence of a rational design method for CRFs compounds this challenge.
This research aims to establish a comprehensive technical quality control process for CRF mixtures, focusing on predicting their compressive strength. The methodological approach involves the initial empirical validation and calibration of an existing semi-empirical model using laboratory-prepared mixtures with varying formulations. Following successful validation, the semi-empirical model can be applied more broadly through the creation a user-friendly application for predicting constants. Subsequently, a practical quality control (QC) process of CRF will be implemented, incorporating fundamental equations and sample collection for drying to determine gravimetric water content.
The results demonstrate the robustness of the semi-empirical model in predicting the UCS of CRF and cement slurry. This predictive capability was assessed through linear regressions, revealing correlation coefficients close to 1. An application has been developed to predict parameters related to the type of cement used in the CRF mixtures, facilitating the prediction of appropriate values based on experiment-related data. Furthermore, the findings underscore the significance of closely monitoring geotechnical parameters (final wet density, dry density, gravimetric water content) and carefully selecting the components for cemented rockfill mixtures to ensure their stability.