Self-healing responses of cementitious tailings materials to changing drainage conditions

Abstract

Cemented paste backfill (CPB) is an innovative mine backfilling method widely used in underground mining operations around the world. In field applications, CPB structures can experience a range of drainage conditions, varying from undrained to fully drained states. However, the influence of these varying drainage conditions on the self-healing behavior and performance of CPB remains unknown, as no studies to date have addressed this critical knowledge gap. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the self-healing efficiency of CPB under three drainage scenarios: full drainage, partial drainage, and no drainage. Results show that drainage conditions significantly influence self-healing performance, with specimens under partial or full drainage demonstrating superior crack closure and recovery of mechanical and hydraulic properties compared to undrained specimens. These findings enhance understanding of CPB's self-healing mechanisms and offer practical insights for improving the durability and stability of CPB structures in mining applications.