Abstract
Concerning the static liquefaction properties of an industrial cargo, i.e., iron ore fines (IOF), undrained monotonic behaviors of a type of IOF are revealed through conducting triaxial compression tests. It is found that IOF exhibit some similar behaviors as those of common sandy soils, while some very unusual behaviors are also observed. All IOF specimens with compaction degree of 84%–95% and confining pressure of 50–200 kPa exhibit dilative behavior from the beginning of axial loading until the deviator stresses reach their peaks (qpk). Then the dilative behavior transforms to a contractive behavior, and the contractive behavior continues until reaching the residual stress without observation of phase transformation and quasi steady state. These behaviors are not usually observed for common sandy soils based on extensive previous works. More studies may be necessary as these unusual behaviors imply that flow failure, similar to the undrained monotonic behavior of very loose sand, may be triggered regardless of the density of IOF. In addition, this study also establishes the relationships of IOF between its initial conditions, peak stress conditions, and residual conditions by employing classical knowledges developed for sandy soils.
Highlights
Iron ore fines (IOF) are transported as a type of bulk cargo for the iron-making industry
For safe transportation of iron ore fines (IOF) at sea, International Maritime Organization (IMO), after two casualties occurred in 2009 (Isacson 2010a), declared that IOF should be regarded as a liquefiable cargo and shipped with a moisture content below the transportable moisture limit (TML), there was no specific regulation procedure for IOF listed in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code) (IMO 2010b)
To properly evaluate the static liquefaction potential of IOF, undrained behaviors of a type of IOF were studied by conducting the isotropically and anisotropically consolidated undrained triaxial shear tests for specimens with the degree of compaction ranging from 83.8% to 95.0% or the initial confining pressure ranging from 50 to 200 kPa
Summary
Iron ore fines (IOF) are transported as a type of bulk cargo for the iron-making industry. For safe transportation of IOF at sea, IMO, after two casualties occurred in 2009 (Isacson 2010a), declared that IOF should be regarded as a liquefiable cargo and shipped with a moisture content below the transportable moisture limit (TML), there was no specific regulation procedure for IOF listed in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code) (IMO 2010b). IMO organized an iron ore technical working group (TWG) with participants of the world’s three largest iron ore producers (BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, and Vale) to conduct research, and coordinate recommendation and conclusions about the transport for IOF (IMO 2013b). Published at www.nrcresearchpress.com/cgj on 4 January 2018
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