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The uniqueness of critical state loci remains uncertain, which is a factor of significant importance in tailing storage facilities in which these lines play a fundamental role in structure stability and design. This study explored the uniqueness of compression and critical state lines (CSLs) for iron ore silty-sand tailings collected from Dam B1 in Minas Gerais, Brazil, under different stress paths. These tests were conducted using remolded samples and were tested with different state conditions (loose and dense), consolidation paths (isotropic and anisotropic), and shearing paths (compression and extension) under drained and undrained conditions. The triaxial results were analyzed in the light of the critical state soil mechanics (CSSM) framework, providing a reliable interpretation of the soil behavior. Although the critical state line in the void ratio versus mean effective stress space tends to be similar for both compression and extension triaxial tests, the instability locus is different. These findings underscore the importance of characterizing the mechanical behavior of these complex materials for the safe design and operation of tailings storage facilities.
Delgado et al. (Wed,) studied this question.