Research on the Mechanical Properties of 3D Printing Polymer Reinforced Cemented Tailings Backfill Under Uniaxial Compression

The brittle damage of the cemented tailings backfill (CTB) seriously threatens the safety of underground workers and equipment. To improve the toughness and ductility characteristics of the CTB, a 3D printing polymer reinforced CTB was designed and prepared. In this study, the uniaxial compression and scanning electron microscopy tests were conducted to investigate the uniaxial compression strength (UCS), stress–strain curve, toughness index, failure mode, and hydration products. The results show that: the UCS of the 3D printing polymer reinforced CTB was 0.80 MPa, and the average UCS growth rate was 36.6% when the material type and shape were ordinary resin (OR) and cross-section. The toughness index (K) value of the 3D printing polymer reinforced CTB with the OR material type was more significant than that of the ordinary CTB. The main hydration products were ettringite and C–S–H gel. 3D printing polymer showed good toughness to the CTB. The research conclusions can provide an essential reference basis for industrial applications of underground backfill.