LAUSR

Abstract The thixotropic properties of fresh cemented tailing backfill (CTB) pastes applied in underground backfilling are investigated. Reversibility of thixotropy, equilibrium rheology, and stress decay curves of CTB pastes are discussed. A constitutive model that contains an evolution equation of structural parameter and a constitutive equation for shear stress is proposed. Modifications are made to incorporate the steady-state rheological model and the evolution equation of structural parameter. The proposed model has 8 parameters that are easily determined by fitting experimental data from a series of constant shear rate tests. The good agreement between the predicted and experimental shear stress responses suggests that such a thixotropic model is validated for CTB pastes. Compared to existing thixotropic models, the proposed constitutive model is simple and distinct, showing the novelty of the evolution equation of structural parameter.