Field load testing of copper extraction aeration pipes under simulated high heap pile

Recently a research team at Ohio University, USA, conducted a unique full-scale field load test to simulate the aeration pipe installations at a copper extraction mine operated in Chile. The overliner material taken from the mine was used in recreating the in situ conditions. Electric heaters were utilized to raise the temperature inside each pipe to simulate the essential element of the copper extraction process. The maximum vertical deflection reached by the test pipes was close to 20%, when the simulated heap pile height was 80 m. The plastic pipes and the overliner material were also tested in the laboratory. Based on the results, the maximum heap pile fill depth was recommended for the aeration system. The results indicated that the vertical deflection was the primary performance index for the aeration pipes installed in heap piles at mines. Lastly, the pipe made of polypropylene resin was super.