ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: This paper describes the results of laboratory investigations intended to investigate the influence of curing under stress on the hydromechanical and geochemical properties of Cemented Paste Backfill (CPB). A new laboratory equipment named CUAPS (curing under applied pressure system) that mimics the in situ placement and curing conditions of CPB material was used, along with conventional mould samples. A big difference was observed between the Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS) obtained from CUAPS-consolidated CPB and conventional mould-unconsolidated CPB samples. An evolution of physico-chemical and geochemical properties of the CPB material is compared for binder contents of 3, 4.5 and 7 wt%, and curing times of 7, 14 and 28 days. The results have shown that the water drainage due to consolidation has an advantageous effect on CPB hardening. Consequently, the performance of the CUAPSconsolidated CPB is always more realistic than the performance of conventional plastic mouldunconsolidated CPB, whose strength is known to be underestimated.
