A State-Dependent Elasto-Plastic Model for Hydrate-Bearing Cemented Sand Considering Damage and Cementation Effects

Abstract

In order to optimize the efficiency and safety of gas hydrate extraction, it is essential to develop a credible constitutive model for sands containing hydrates. A model incorporating both cementation and damage was constructed to describe the behavior of hydrate-bearing cemented sand. This model is based on the critical state theory and builds upon previous studies. The damage factor Ds is incorporated to consider soil degradation and the reduction in hydrate cementation, as described by plastic shear strain. A computer program was developed to simulate the mechanisms of cementation and damage evolution, as well as the stress-strain curves of hydrate-bearing cemented sand. The results indicate that the model replicates the mechanical behavior of soil cementation and soil deterioration caused by impairment well. By comparing the theoretical curves with the experimental data, the compliance of the model was calculated to be more than 90 percent. The new state-dependent elasto-plastic constitutive model based on cementation and damage of hydrate-bearing cemented sand could provide vital guidance for the construction of deep-buried tunnels, extraction of hydrocarbon compounds, and development of resources.

Assessing Mechanical Properties and Response of Expansive Soft Rock in Tunnel Excavation: A Numerical Simulation Study

“…These methods are categorized into continuum and discrete approaches. We primarily utilize continuum methods, notably the finite element method (FEM), extended finite element method (XFEM), and finite difference method (FDM), as detailed by Liu et al [26][27][28].…”

A Study on the Effects of Hob Temperature on the Rock-Breaking Characteristics of Sandstone Strata

“…When rocks suffer from multidirectional damage, their fundamental mechanical properties undergo significant changes. Tong et al [20] investigated the constitutive relationship of sand by introducing the coupling of damage and consolidation stress. The coupling of stress and heat can also be considered in waste storage and in relation to the thermal effects of tunnel boring machine (TBM) cutterheads during cutting.…”