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Mechanical behaviour of cemented paste backfill

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MONTREAL 2000 : 53 rd ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE CANADIAN GEOTECHNICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 1, ISBN 0-920505-15-5
MONTRÉAL 2000 : 53e CONFÉRENCE DE LA SOCIÉTÉ CANADIENNE DE GÉOTECHNIQUE, Vol. 1

MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF CEMENTED PASTE BACKFILL

Tikou BELEM, Mostafa B ENZAAZOUA and Bruno BUSSIÈRE
University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue,
Unité de recherche et de service en technologie minérale
Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, J9X 5E4 Canada

RÉSUMÉ: Le remblai cimenté en pâte est une technologie largement employée par les mines modernes à travers le monde
en raison de la sévérité des normes environnementales liées au potentiel de pollution des résidus sulfurés. Cet article traite
du comportement mécanique à moyen terme (de 0 à 91 jours) et à long terme (plus de 91 jours) du remblai cimenté en pâte.
Deux types de résidu de deux mines polymétalliques canadiennes ont été échantillonnés pour fabriquer des mélanges de
remblai avec trois types de liant: à base de ciment Portland (PC), à base de cendres volantes (FP) et à base de scories (SP).
Les essais de compression uniaxiale ont montré que d'une part, (qu)SP > (qu) FP ≈ (qu)PC et d'autre part, les résistances
mécaniques des remblais en pâte à long terme sont très semblables. Les essais de compression triaxiale ont montré que
plus le pourcentage de liant est élevé, plus la cohésion du remblai est élevée et moins l'angle de frottement est grand.

ABSTRACT: Cemented paste backfill is a method increasingly used by modern mines throughout the world due to
increasingly stringent environmental regulations on sulfur-rich tailings. This paper studies the mechanical behavior of
cemented paste backf ill with mid term (up to 91 days) and long term (more than 91 days) curing times. Two Canadian sulfur
mine tailings samples were used for making various backfill mixtures with three different types of binder : Portland cement-
based binder (PC), fly ash-based binder (FP) and slag-based binder (SP). The uniaxial compression test results showed that
(qu)SP > (q u)FP ≈ (qu)PC. These tests also showed that for a given type of binder, the kinetics of hydration depends on the
tailings properties while the obtained long-term strengths of the paste backfill are very similar. The triaxial compression test
results demonstrate that both the cohesion of the backfill increases and the angle of friction decreases with an increase in the
percentage of binder material.

1. INTRODUCTION tailings mineralogy and particle size distribution, water

Underground mining of deep ore deposits involves
economic, environmental and safety challenges for mine
operators such as decreases in metals prices, efficient
ground s upport, low cost operation and stringent
environmental regulations (Viles and Davis 1989, Petrolito
et al. 1998, Weaver and Luka 1970, Lawrence 1992, Ouellet
et al. 1998). One of the solutions of these challenges is the
use of cemented paste backfill as secondary pillars, to
ensure the stability of the underground excavations
(Thomas et al. 1979, Mitchell and Wong 1982, Mitchell
1989, Stone 1993, Amaratunga and Hein 1997). Backfill is a
hardened composite material made from a mixture of mine
tailings, hydraulic binders (such as ordinary Portland
cement, fly ash, blast furnace slag or a combination of
these) and water. The role of hydraulic binders is to
generate mechanical strength in the cemented paste
backfill. The use of paste backfill is currently practiced in
many modern mines throughout the world, and particularly
Canada. The two main benefits of paste backfill are lower
operating costs and a reduction of the amounts of waste
material sent to the tailings facility for disposal. This
lessening of the amount of waste in the tailings facility
decreases the environmental impact and defers future
capital expenditures related to the tailings facility (Barsotti
1978, Hassani and Archibald 1998). Previous work
(Lawrence 1992, Ouellet et al. 1998, Mitchell and Wong
1982, Benzaazoua et al. 1999a, Benzaazoua et al. 1999b,
Bernier et al. 1999, Benzaazoua and Belem 2000) showed
that mechanical properties of cemented backfill depend
upon its physical and chemical characteristics such as the
content, binder type and its proportion (Lawrence 1992,
Stone 1993, Benzaazoua et al. 1999b, Benzaazoua and
Belem 2000). These mechanical properties can vary
tremendously in the course of curing time. Initially, the paste
fill is close to a soft clay, after 28 days of curing time it is
similar to a compacted silt and beyond 91 days of curing
time it can be harder than a compacted soil and can have a
resistance similar to a soft rock like chalk or laterite.
The paste backfill must be designed so that it will reach its
target compressive strength values at 28 days of curing age
and beyond. This can be done by choosing optimal mixtures
for each type of tailings. The short and long term
mechanical properties will determine the conditions of
backfilling and the durability of paste backfill. The optimal
mixtures must also take into account the cost of the
backfilling operations. A typical operation cost is about 1
Canadian dollar (1 $CAN) per ton of tailings (Hassani and
Archibald 1998). This corresponds to a binder proportion of
between 3 wt% and 7 wt%.
The purpose of this paper is to study the mechanical
behavior of cemented backfill relative to the tailings
properties, the binder types and their proportions in the
course of curing time. Two different mill tailings were
sampled and mixed with three different types of hydraulic
binder to obtain the paste fill mixtures. In the present study
the curing time is arbitrarily subdivided into three periods
which are short-term (28 days), mid-term (91 days) and
long-term (112 days). The resulting backfill samples were
studied at both mid and long term curing times. The 112 day
curing time period corresponds to the usual blasting date
near the backfilled rooms. The mid term behavior of the

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MÉCANIQUE DES ROCHES / ROCK MECHANICS T. Belem et al.
SÉANCES TECHNIQUES / TECHNICAL SESSIONS

backfill samples was investigated through the uniaxial 2.1.3 Paste backfill mixtures
compressive strength parameter (q u) using uniaxial
compression tests and the long-term behavior was For each tailings sample, nine mixtures (tailings + binder +
investigated through the cohesion (c) and the angle of water) were made using the three different binder types
internal friction ( φ) using triaxial compression tests. (PC, FP and SP) and three different binder percentages (3
wt%, 4.5 wt% and 6 wt%). The process waters of the two
different mines were used as the mixing water for the
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS samples. The final mixtures contain approximately 78%
solids for backfill sample CT-1 (water-to-solids ratio of 0.28)
2.1 Materials and about 74% solids for backfill sample CT-2 (water-to-
solids ratio of 0.36). The water-to-cement ratios (w/c) are
2.1.1 Mill tailings sampling 12, 8 and 6 for binder proportions of 3%, 4.5% and 6% by
total weight respectively.
Two Canadian mill tailings from polymetallic mines (CT-1
and CT-2) with differing sulfide contents were sampled for The resulting mixtures were poured into plastic cylinders 10
the paste backfill preparation. Tailings CT-1 contain cm diameter and 20 cm long which gives a height to
approximately 16% sulfur and tailings CT-2 contain about diameter ratio of approximately 2. The cylinders were then
5% sulfur. The physical properties of these tailings are listed sealed and cured in a fogroom maintained at approximately
in Table 1. The tailings in sample CT-1 are slightly finer 70% humidity (similar to underground mine conditions) for
grained than the tailings from sample CT-2. periods of 14, 28, 56, 91 and 112 days. Then the resultant
specimens were used for uniaxial and triaxial compression
Table 1. Physical properties of mine tailings. tests. The possible influence of the mixing water chemistry
was not studied even if it was known that the chemistry of
Parameter Tailings CT-1 Tailings CT-2 the waters would be a significant factor in the hydration of
Specific gravity G s 3.30 2.90 hydraulic binders.
D10 (µm) 3.22 4.15
2.2 Methods
D30 (µm) 10.10 10.90
D50 (µm) 21.62 40.22 In the present study, the mechanical characteristics of
D60 (µm) 12.00 14.50 backfill were evaluated the mid-term curing time (i.e. up to
D90 (µm) 98.79 133.92 91 days) through uniaxial compression tests and at the long-
Cu 3.69 3.45 term curing time (i.e. 112 days) through triaxial compression
Cc 11.66 11.53 tests. The variables studied the tailings characteristics
(mineralogy and particle size distribution), hydraulic binder
type and binder percentage.
2.1.2 Hydraulic binders A total of 108 paste backfill samples were tested by uniaxial
compression tests and 24 specimens by triaxial
For this study, ordinary Portland cement (TI-Pc) was compression tests. The results of the uniaxial compression
selected for the basic component for the three different tests allowed the authors to (i) get the values of the backfill
types of binders (mixtures of two types of cement) : the compressive strength (USC) and (ii) choose the optimal
sulfate resistant or Type V Portland cement (TV-Pc) based mixture for each of the two types of tailings. The triaxial
binder (PC), the fly ash based binder (FP) and the slag compression tests were done on the samples obtained from
based binder (SP). The proportions of each type of cement these optimal mixture recipes. The tests were performed
used for the different binders are tabulated in Table 2. using a computer-controlled mechanical press (MTS 10/GL)
having a normal loading capacity of 50 kN and a
displacement rate of 0.001mm/min.
Table 2. Mixture recipes used for the two tailings studied.

Binder Binder Tailings TI-Pc T V-Pc Slag Fly ash 3. RESULTS

type (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
3.1 Uniaxial compression test results
PC 3 97 1.5 1.5 0 0
PC 4.5 95.5 2.25 2.25 0 0
3.1.1 Mid-term backfill compressive strength
PC 6 94 3 3 0 0
FP 3 97 1.5 0 0 1.5
FP 4.5 95.5 2.25 0 0 2.25 Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the relationship between uniaxial
compressive strength, qu, and curing time of the paste
FP 6 94 3 0 0 3
backfill samples CT-1 and CT-2 for each binder type and for
SP 3 97 0.6 0 2.4 0
each percentage of binder. Each qu represents an average
SP 4.5 95.5 0.9 0 3.6 0
value obtained from three tests with a standard deviation
SP 6 94 1.2 0 4.8 0 ranging from 10 to 50 kPa. These figures clearly show the
differences in the strength acquisition mode (hydration of
the binders) by the two types of paste backfill.

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MONTRÉAL 2000 : 53e CONFÉRENCE DE LA SOCIÉTÉ CANADIENNE DE GÉOTECHNIQUE, Vol. 1

4000 4000
(a) binder type PC 3 wt% 3 wt%
Compressive strength q u , kPa

Compressive strength q u , kPa

3500 3500 (a) binder type PC
4.5 wt% 4.5 wt%
3000 6 wt% 3000 6 wt%

2500 2500

2000 2000

1500 1500

1000 1000

500 500

0 0
0 14 28 42 56 70 84 98 112 126 0 14 28 42 56 70 84 98 112 126
Curing time (days) Curing time (days)

4000 4000
3 wt% 3 wt%
(b) binder type FP (b) binder type FP
Compressive strength q u , kPa

3500 Compressive strength q u , kPa 3500

4.5 wt% 4.5 wt%
3000 6 wt% 3000 6 wt%

2500 2500

2000 2000

1500 1500

1000 1000

500 500

0 0
0 14 28 42 56 70 84 98 112 126 0 14 28 42 56 70 84 98 112 126
Curing time (days) Curing time (days)

4000 4000
(c) binder type SP 3 wt% (c) binder type SP 3 wt%
Compressive strength q u , kPa

Compressive strength q u , kPa

3500 4.5 wt% 3500 4.5 wt%

3000 6 wt% 3000 6 wt%

2500 2500

2000 2000

1500 1500

1000 1000

500 500

0 0
0 14 28 42 56 70 84 98 112 126 0 14 28 42 56 70 84 98 112 126
Curing time (days) Curing time (days)

Figure 1. Variation in qu with curing time for the backfill Figure 2. Variation in qu with curing time for the backfill
samples made with the tailings CT-1 using (a) the binder samples made with the tailings CT-2 using (a) the binder
type PC (TI-Pc:TV-Pc), (b) the binder type FP (T I-Pc:Fly type PC (TI-Pc: TV-Pc), (b) the binder type FP (TI-Pc:Fly
ash), and (c) the binder type SP (TI-Pc:Slag). ash), and (c) the binder type SP (TI-Pc:Slag).

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MÉCANIQUE DES ROCHES / ROCK MECHANICS T. Belem et al.
SÉANCES TECHNIQUES / TECHNICAL SESSIONS

4000 For a given binder type, these differences concern both the
PC (CT-1)
Compressive strength q u , kPa

(a) 3 wt% of binder PC (CT-2) magnitude of qu and the effect of the binder percentage. For
3500
FP (CT-1) the backfill CT-1, Figure 1 shows that after 28 days qu
3000 FP (CT-2)
SP (CT-1) increases significantly with curing age for all three binder
2500 SP (CT-2) types and all of the binder types tested. These results also
show that binder types PC and FP exhibit similar
2000 performances for the three percentages and that binder type
1500 SP has low short-term strength. For the backfill CT-2, Figure
2 shows that, after 28 days and more, qu increases
1000
appreciably with curing age for all three types of binder and
500 for all of the binder percentages tested. Also, the hydration
0 of the binder type SP is slower than that of the binder types
PC and FP for the two paste backfill samples. The hydration
0 14 28 42 56 70 84 98 112 126 140
rate appears to depend on the binder percentage.
Curing time (days)
Figure 3 shows the effect of tailings sulfur grade on q u of the
different backfill samples. One can note that the three binder
types used (PC, FP and SP) do not harden the tailings
samples CT-1 and CT-2 in the same manner. The hydration
4000 of binders appears to be directly related to the physical
PC (CT-1)
Compressive strength q u , kPa

3500 (b) 4.5 wt% of binder PC (CT-2) properties, and specifically the sulfur content of the tailings
FP (CT-1) used for the paste backfill mixtures (16% for the tailings CT-
FP (CT-2)
3000 1 and 5% for the tailings CT-2). From Figure 3, (i) it appears
SP (CT-1)
2500 SP (CT-2) that binder type PC, when m ixed with the tailings CT-1 and
CT-2 gives low strength, and also (ii) that binder type FP is
2000 more suitable with the tailings CT-1 and CT-2 than the
1500 binder type PC, and finally, (iii) that binder type PS seems to
be more suitable for tailings having a low to medium sulfide
1000
content. Also, this binder generates more strength to the
500 backfill CT-1 and CT-2 than the binder types PC and PF.
0
When backfilling can only be done in a single sequence (for
0 14 28 42 56 70 84 98 112 126 140 various mine operations reasons), the binder should be able
Curing time (days) to generate strength of about 700 kPa at short-term (28
days) and a strength of about 1000 kPa at long-term (more
than 91 days) in paste backfill (Stone 1993). According to
uniaxial compression tests results, the optimal mixture for
obtaining these target strengths for the tailings CT-1 and
4000 CT-2 will be a mixture with 4.5% by weight binder type SP.
Compressive strength q u , kPa

3500 (c) 6 wt% of binder This binder type generates a short-term q u of about 410 kPa
and a long-term qu of about 2.3 MPa for the backfill CT-1
3000 and a short-term qu of about 890 kPa and a long-term q u of
2500 PC (CT-1) about 1.2 MPa for the backfill CT-2.
PC (CT-2)
2000 FP (CT-1) 3.1.2 Long-term backfill compressive strength
FP (CT-2)
1500 SP (CT-1)
SP (CT-2)
Figure 4 shows uniaxial compression stress-strain curves of
1000 backfill samples CT-1 and CT-2 tested after 112 days of
500 cure. This figure shows the effect of different percentages of
the binder type SP (Figure 4a) as well as the effect of a
0 4.5% by weight of the binder types SP, FP and PC (Figure
0 14 28 42 56 70 84 98 112 126 140 4b) on the strain characteristics of the backfill CT-1 and CT-
Curing time (days) 2. The values of qu and the modulus of elasticity E obtained
from the uniaxial compression curves (Figure 4) are
Figure 3. Effect of tailings sulfur grade on the backfill tabulated in Table 3. One can note that qu and E depend
strength acquisition during curing time using (a) 3 wt% of both on the percentage of binder (for a given type of binder)
binder, (b) 4.5 wt% of binder, and (c) 6 wt% of binder. The and the type of binder (for a fixed percentage). Figure 4
dash lines correspond to the tailings CT-1 and the solid lines shows also clearly that for a given type of tailings the
correspond to the tailings CT-2. modulus of elasticity E depends much more on the
percentage of binder than on the type of binder.

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MONTRÉAL 2000 : 53e CONFÉRENCE DE LA SOCIÉTÉ CANADIENNE DE GÉOTECHNIQUE, Vol. 1

4000 1400 binder type SP was studied using tailings CT-1 while the
(a) Backfill CT-1 (b) Backfill CT-2 effect of using 4.5 wt% of three different types of binder on
3500 with binder SP with 4.5 wt%
1200 the same tailings type was studied using tailings CT-2.
3000
Axial stress σ1 , kPa

Axial stress σ1 , kPa

6 wt% 1000 binder SP
2500 3.2.1 Stress-strain relationships
4.5 wt%
800 binder FP
2000
600
Figures 5 and 6 show the typical stress-strain curves at
1500 different confining pressures for the samples obtained from
3 wt% 400 the optimal mixtures of the tailings samples CT-1 and CT-2
1000
binder PC respectively.
500 200
The overall stress-strain behavior of these paste backfill
0 0
0 0.5 1 1.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 samples is elastoplastic. One can observe that the samples
Axial strain ε1 , % Axial strain ε1 , % of backfill CT-1 deform much more than the samples of
backfill CT-2 (E(CT-1) > E(CT-2)). In addition, for confining
Figure 4. Uniaxial compression stress-strain relationships pressures higher than 400 kPa, the stress-strain curves
for (a) the backfill CT-1 and (b) the backfill CT-2 tested at obtained for backfill CT-2 (Figure 6) increase monotonously
112 curing days. with hardening.

Table 3. Young's modulus E and q u values for the 112 days 3000
σ3 = 0 kPa
cured samples of the backfill CT-1 and CT-2.
Deviatoric stress (σ1 − σ3 ), kPa

2500
Backfill Binder proportion qu E σ3 = 1200 kPa
2000
(kPa) (kPa) σ3 = 400 kPa
CT-1 3 wt% of SP 1 012 468 913
1500
CT-1 4.5 wt% of SP 2 325 931 856
CT-1 6 wt% of SP 3 456 1 141 095 1000
CT-2 4.5 wt% of PC 534 299 647
CT-2 4.5 wt% of FP 787 392 819 500
CT-2 4.5 wt% of SP 1 273 424 266
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Figure 4a shows that for a given type of binder added to a Axial strain ε 1 , %
given tailings, the modulus of elasticity of the resulting paste
backfill depends on the initial binder proportion and the
consequent amount of formed hydrates. Figure 4b suggests Figure 5. Stress -strain curves at 112 days for the backfill
that the cemented matrices of paste backfill made with a CT-1 using 4.5 wt% of the binder type SP (optimal recipe).
given tailings have almost the same elasticity for a fixed
percentage whatever the type of binder.
1800
3.2 Triaxial compression test results: long-term behavior σ3 = 0 kPa
Deviatoric stress (σ1 − σ3 ), kPa

1600

Twenty four of the 112 day (date of blasting near the 1400
backfilled rooms) cured samples of the backfill CT-1 and σ3 = 800 kPa
1200
CT-2 were subjected to consolidated-drained triaxial
1000 σ3 = 400 kPa
compression tests to study their long-term mechanical
behavior. These tests were done under confining pressures 800 σ3 = 600 kPa
ranging from 0 to 1600 kPa, with a constant axial 600
deformation rate of 1 mm/mn. The effect of the tailings type
400
on the intrinsic behavior of paste backfill was studied
through tests done on samples corresponding to the optimal 200
backfill mixture for the tailings CT-1 and CT-2, i.e. 4.5 wt% 0
of the binder type SP(Slag-Portland cement based binder). 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Axial strain ε 1 , %
In the same way, additional triaxial compression tests were
done on other two backfill samples to study (i) the effect of
different percentages of the binder type SP (i.e. 3%, 4.5% Figure 6. Stress -strain curves at 112 days for the backfill
and 6% by weight) and (ii) the effect of 4.5 wt% of the binder CT-2 using 4.5 wt% of the binder type SP (optimal recipe).
types PC, FP and SP, on the intrinsic mechanical behavior
of paste backfill. The effect of different percentages of the

377
MÉCANIQUE DES ROCHES / ROCK MECHANICS T. Belem et al.
SÉANCES TECHNIQUES / TECHNICAL SESSIONS

3.2.2 Failure criteria of the paste backfill 3000

Backfill CT-2 using 4.5 wt% of binder

Major principal stress σ1 , kPa

The triaxial compression test results are plotted in the 2500
principal stresses plan σ1–σ3 in Figures 7, 8 and 9. Figure 7
allows one to compare the intrinsic behavior of the optimal 2000
mixture (4.5 wt% of the binder type SP) backfill samples CT-
1 and CT-2. Figure 8 allows one to visualize the effect of 1500
various percentages of the binder type SP on the intrinsic
behavior of the backfill CT-1. Figure 9 shows the effect of 1000 Binder type SP
the binder types SP, PC and FP on the intrinsic behavior of Mohr-Coulomb Binder type PC
the backfill CT-2 for a fixed binder percentage (4.5 wt%). 500 failure criterion Binder type FP

One can note that almost all of the data points were 0
obtained with only two different confining pressures and one 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
unconfined compression test (value at σ3 = 0). The Minor principal stress σ3, kPa
maximum confining pressures correspond to approximately
half the unconfined compressive strength (qu). These Figure 8. Failure criterion showing the effect of the type of
figures also show that the test results are very well binder.
described by the Mohr -Coulomb failure criterion which is of
the form:
6000
[1] σ1 = q u + k p σ3 Backfill CT-1 using the binder type SP
Major principal stress σ1 , kPa

5000
where kp is the slope of the Mohr envelope. The slope (kp)
and the cohesion (c) of the backfill are given by the following 4000
relationships:
3000
1+ sin φ
[2] kp = 2000 3wt%
1− sin φ
4.5wt%
1000 Mohr-Coulomb
kp − 1 failure criterion 6wt%
[3] sin φ =
kp + 1 0
0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750

qu (1− sin φ ) Minor principal stress σ3 , kPa

[4] c=
2 cos φ
Figure 9. Failure criterion showing the effect of the
where φ is the angle of internal friction of the backfill. proportion of binder.

4500 Table 4. Mohr-Coulomb parameters c and φ for the 112

4.5 wt% of the binder type SP days cured of the backfill CT-1 and CT-2.
Major principal stress σ1 , kPa

4000
3500 Backfill Binder proportion c φ
3000 kPa degree
2500 CT-1 3 wt% of SP 389 15
CT-1 4.5 wt% of SP 994 9
2000
CT-1 6 wt% of SP 1 595 5
1500 CT-2 4.5 wt% of PC 162 28
1000 Backfill CT-1 CT-2 4.5 wt% of FP 244 26
Mohr-Coulomb
failure criterion CT-2 4.5 wt% of SP 518 12
500 Backfill CT-2
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 The parameters c and φ calculated from all the test results
Minor principal stress σ3, kPa at 112 days are shown in Table 4. It can be noted that the
higher is the cohesion, the higher is the elastic modulus E
Figure 7. Failure criterion showing the effect of the type of and the lesser the angle of friction. These results suggest
tailings. that the paste backfill after 112 days of curing time (long-
term behavior) shows a mechanical behavior midway
between a hard soil and a soft rock.

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4. DISCUSSION
In the present study the mechanical characteristics of paste
backfill were evaluated for their mid-term (i.e. up to 91 days)
by uniaxial compression tests and for their long-term (i.e. at
112 days) by triaxial compression tests.
4.1 Analysis of the uniaxial compression tests
The uniaxial compression test results showed that the
evolution of the uniaxial compressive strength (qu) in the
course of time (mode of hydration of the binders) depends
on the type of tailings, the type of binder used and its
proportion in the mixture. For example, with an optimum
percentage of 4.5 wt% of binder, the best short-term
mechanical strength of the backfill CT-1 was obtained using
the binder type FP (fly ash-based cement) while the best
long -term strength was obtained using the binder type SP
(slag -based cement).
In term of the hydration kinetics of the binders, one can
notice that for the tailings samples CT-1 and CT-2, the
binder type PC hydrated rapidly and almost reached its limit
of hydration (maximum strength) after 28 days of curing
time. The binder type FP also hydrated rapidly and almost
reached its limit of hydration after 28 days of curing time for
tailings CT-1, but appears to continue to hydrate for tailings
CT-2 (cf. Figure 3). Overall, with equal proportions of binder,
the mechanical strengths obtained with binder type FP are
always higher than those acquired using the binder type PC
(Figures 1, 2 and 3).
The binder type SP hydrated less rapidly from 0 to 28 days
of curing time with tailings sample CT-1 than with tailings
sample CT-2. Beyond 28 days of curing time, the backfill
CT-1 becomes much more resistant than the backfill CT-2
and this, whatever the percentage of binder (Figure 3).
Starting from 91 days of curing time the binder type SP adds
more resistance to the backfill than binder types PC and FP:
qu(SP) > qu(PC) ≈ qu(FP). But for the two paste backfill
types, Figures 1 and 2 seem to show that a stable maximum
strength will be reached past 91 days of curing time.
4.2 Analysis of the triaxial compression tests
4.2.1 Effect of the type of tailings
The data of Table 4 and the Figure 7 show that the effect of
the tailings type is very pronounced for cohesion, c, but is
nominal for the angle of internal friction. Indeed, the
cohesion of the backfill CT-1 (c = 994 kPa) is almost twice
the cohesion of the backfill CT-2 (c = 518 kPa). However,
the angle of friction of the backfill CT-2 (φ = 12°) is only
slightly higher than the one for the backfill CT-1 (φ = 9°). The
slight difference between the angles of friction is due to the
similarity of the hydration mode of the binder type SP within
the two types of backfill. However, the great difference
between cohesion could be ascribed to the effect of
particles size distribution and to the presence of sulfur in the
tailings on the hydration kinetics of binder type SP.
4.2.2 Effect of the type of binder
The data of Table 4 and the Figure 8 show that when mixing
backfill samples CT-2 using the same proportion of 4.5 wt%
with binder types SP, PC and FP, the strongest cohesion (c
= 518 kPa) was obtained with the blast furnace slag based
cement (SP). The cohesion of the slag based cement (SP)
was more than twice the cohesion obtained with binder type
FP (c = 244 kPa) and more than the triple cohesion
obtained with binder type PC (c = 162 kPa). In addition, the
highest angle of friction (φ = 28°) was obtained with binder
type PC (weakest cohesion), while the lowest angle of
friction (φ = 12°) was obtained with binder type SP
(strongest cohesion). The angles of friction obtained using
binder types FP (φ = 26°) and PC (φ = 28°) are very close,
but the corresponding cohesions differ by at least 50 kPa
(cf. Table 4). Thus, for the low sulfur tailings sample CT-2,
the following relationships were found: cohesion c(SP) >
c(FP) > c(PC) and the angle of friction φ(SP) < φ(FP) < φ(PC) .
The values of the angles of internal friction show that the
modes of hydration of the binder types FP and PC are
similar but differ from the one of the binder type SP.
4.2.3 Effect of the binder proportion
Table 4 and Figure 9 clearly show the effect of various
proportions of binder type SP (3, 4.5 and 6 wt%) on the
cohesion values of the backfill sample CT-1. Indeed, the
strongest cohesion (c = 1595 kPa) was obtained using the 6
wt% proportion which is four time higher than the cohesion
obtained using the 3 wt% proportion (c = 389 kPa) and
differs by more than 500 kPa from the cohesion obtained
using the 4.5 wt% proportion (c = 994 kPa). The highest
angle of friction (φ = 15°) was obtained using the 3 wt%
proportion (lower cohesion), while the lowest angle of
friction (φ = 5°) was obtained using the 6 wt% proportion
(stronger cohesion). The mean difference between the
angle of friction values obtained using the three proportions
of binder is on the order of 5°. Generally, figure 9 also
shows that (i) the mode of hydration is the same whatever
the proportion of binder used, and (ii) the variation in the
proportion of binder involves a variation in the rate of
hydration which directly affects the cohesion of the backfill.
1800 16
1600 14
Angle of friction φ, degree
1400 12
Cohesion c, kPa
1200
10
1000
8
800
6
600
400 4
Backfill CT-1
Binder type SP 2
200
0 0
1.5 3 4.5 6 7.5
Binder proportion, %
Figure 10. Correlation between the cohesion and the angle
of friction and the proportion of binder.
379
 MÉCANIQUE DES ROCHES / ROCK MECHANICS
SÉANCES TECHNIQUES / TECHNICAL SESSIONS
Figure 10 shows that there is a good correlation between
the angle of internal friction and the cohesion, and the
proportion of binder. These correlations show that there is a
reduction in the angle of friction when the proportion of
binder increases, and also that there is an increase in the
cohesion when the proportion of binder increases.
5. CONCLUSION
In the present work two different tailings (tailings samples
CT-1 and CT-2) from two different Canadian polymetallic
mines were used to produce various paste backfill mixtures
using three types of binder: a Portland cement-based binder
(PC), a slag-based binder (SP) and a fly ash-based binder
(FP). The tailings CT-1 is sulfur-rich (16% sulfur) while the
tailings CT-2 are low grade for sulfur (5% sulfur). The mid-
term (i.e. at 91 days) mechanical behaviors of the backfill
were investigated through uniaxial compression tests and
the long-term (i.e. at 112 days) mechanical behaviors of the
backfill were investigated through triaxial compression tests.
The main observations are:
(i) The mid-term mechanical strength increases as the
proportion of binder increases irregardless of the curing
time, the tailings type or the binder type used in the
mixture. The hydration of the binders seems to be
directly related to the particle size distribution and the
mineralogy (sulfur content) of the tailings used in the
paste backfill mixture.
(ii) The long-term cohesion c and angle of friction φ of the
backfill depend on the binder type and its mode of
hydration. In addition, long-term cohesion is tailings
sulfur grade dependant.
The results presented in this study showed that the paste
backfill is a material whose physical, microstructural and
mechanical properties evolve from its manufacture to its
hardening. The semi-brittle failure mode and the
elastoplastic behavior suggest that, at long-term curing time,
the paste backfill becomes a material with physical
characteristics between a hard soil and a soft rock.
6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This research was supported by the Institut de Recherche
en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail du Québec (IRSST). The
authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the
mine operators for their assistance. Finally, the authors
gratefully acknowledge the technical support of Darcy
Jolette.
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