Numerical Analysis of Radiation Damping in Tailings Dams

Abstract

The dynamic deformation analysis has become standard practice for evaluating the earthquake performance of tailings dams, with radiation damping being an important aspect of the dam’s dynamic response. The radiation damping in tailings dams is analyzed using simplified numerical models, incorporating different material properties, and dam geometries. The dams were excited at their fundamental frequency, and the radiation damping was obtained by analyzing the dam’s response. The results show that damping ratios can reach values as high as 20% for certain dam configurations. A case history is analyzed, confirming the importance of radiation damping in the dam’s dynamic behavior.