Geotechnical considerations for solar panel installation on mine tailings

Srikant Annavarapu, Terril Wilson, Moe Momayez, Alexander D Cronin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Geotechnical stability considerations are important for the installation of solar panels on mine tailings areas. Active tailings deposition areas consist of coarse-grained, free-draining relatively stable particulate mass at the perimeter with fine-grained, low shear strength mass around the supernatant pond in the deposition area. An evaluation of the geotechnical stability of the supports for the solar panels constructed, which will have their foundations placed on mine tailings, is essential so that the orientation of the solar panels can be maintained within suitable limits. An assessment of the forces imposed on the solar panel supports, including the distributed weight of the solar panel arrays and effect of wind loading on the flat array surfaces, also need to be considered in the design of suitable foundations for these supports. This paper enumerates some of the geotechnical issues related to the installation of solar panel arrays on active and inactive mine tailings areas.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication26th Annual Meetings of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation and 11th Billings Land Reclamation Symposium 2009
PublisherAmerican Society of Mining and Reclamation
Pages37-43
Number of pages7
ISBN (Print)9781615673735
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
EventJoint Conference of 26th Annual Meetings of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation and 11th Billings Land Reclamation Symposium 2009 - Billings, MT, United States
Duration: May 30 2009Jun 5 2009

Publication series

Name26th Annual Meetings of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation and 11th Billings Land Reclamation Symposium 2009
Volume1

Other

OtherJoint Conference of 26th Annual Meetings of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation and 11th Billings Land Reclamation Symposium 2009
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBillings, MT
Period5/30/096/5/09

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
  • Waste Management and Disposal

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Geotechnical considerations for solar panel installation on mine tailings'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this