Deterministic and probabilistic analysis of the safety of coal refuse disposal facilities

The purpose of this study is to develop a probabilistic technique in evaluating the stability of coal refuse disposal facilities. A review of coal refuse disposal and the variability associated with coal refuse have been presented. The causes of variability both in soil and coal refuse were discussed in detail, and the extent of variability of coal refuse properties were studied. A probabilistic approach named PEM was incorporated to determine the reliability and assess the probability of low factor of safety of coal refuse disposal facilities. A computer model based on the Simplified Bishop Method and PEM principles had been developed to accomplish the probabilistic study, this computer code is named POINT. Several supplemental codes RANGEN, MONTE, and PEARSON were also developed for the same purpose. The Pearson's system of distributions was found particularly useful in determining the probable PDF. The term Reliability Index (...