Modelación del post-colapso del tranque de relaves Las Palmas usando el Método del Punto Material
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21703/0718-2813.2025.37.3240Palabras clave:
Falla de presas de relaves, Método de punto material, Modelado de grandes deformacionesResumen
En los últimos años, el análisis post-colapso ha cobrado relevancia en la industria geotécnica y minera para la evaluación y mitigación de riesgos. La estimación del runout por fallas en presas de relaves se ha convertido en un requisito regulatorio para el diseño, operación y cierre de instalaciones de almacenamiento de relaves (TSF). El desafío clave radica en modelar grandes deformaciones considerando la mecánica de suelos del continuo. El Método del Punto Material (MPM), un enfoque de mecánica del continuo, muestra potencial debido a su eficiencia en el modelado de grandes deformaciones. Es particularmente valioso para estudiar todo el proceso de inestabilidad, incluyendo la estabilidad estática, el inicio de la falla, el comportamiento post-falla y el runout posterior. Este estudio aplica el MPM a un caso real: el colapso de la presa de relaves Las Palmas, desencadenado por el terremoto del Maule de 2010 en Chile (Mw 8.8). La presa está ubicada aproximadamente a 30 km al noroeste de Talca, en la Región del Maule, Chile. El modelo computacional considera una condición bidimensional de deformación plana con un medio poroso completamente saturado y una formulación hidromecánica acoplada. Los resultados incluyen patrones de velocidad, deformación, desplazamiento y deposición final. Cabe destacar que la distancia de runout calculada coincide con las observaciones in situ posteriores al colapso, lo que valida la capacidad del método para replicar casos reales. Esta investigación mejora nuestra comprensión de los mecanismos de falla y contribuye a una mejor gestión de riesgos en la industria minera.
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