A comparison of simulated unsaturated flow through waste rocks using two commonly used computer models
A study was undertaken to examine the feasibility of using two computer programs (HELP and SoilCover) to model unsaturated flow through an inactive reclaimed tailing dam. The air was to estimate the amount of flux at the bottom of the facility. The validity of the use of these models to analyze flow through reclaimed tailings and waste rock was examined. These two models were compared using similar geometry, climatological and hydraulic parameters. The theory of unsaturated flow for these two models and required input parameters are discussed. a sensitivity analysis of the various input parameters for the two models was performed to identify the important input parameters required for the unsaturated flow models. The study revealed that saturated hydraulic conductivity, Soil Conservation Service curve number and fraction of the area for surface runoff were the most influential parameters influencing the HELP model simulations, while the SoilCover model was most sensitive to the coefficient of volume compressibility.
- Research Organization:
- AGRA Earth and Environmental, Phoenix, AZ (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20026837
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 16th annual national meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation, Scottsdale, AZ (US), 08/13/1999--08/19/1999; Other Information: PBD: [1999]; Related Information: In: Mining and reclamation for the next millennium. Proceedings of the 16th annual national meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation, by Bengson, S.A.; Bland, D.M. [eds.], 745 pages.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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