Thermodynamic Constitutive Model of the Gas Hydrate-Bearing Sediments Considering Anisotropy

Abstract

Gas hydrate-bearing sediments (GHBS) are considered a significant potential energy source. However, the decomposition of hydrates can lead to various geological hazards. Therefore, a comprehensive investigation into the mechanical properties of GHBS is essential to ensure the safe extraction of gas hydrate. This paper presents a constitutive model for GHBS that incorporates anisotropy, based on the theory of thermodynamics. To account for the effects of hydrate filling and cementing, two parameters are introduced into the dissipation function of the model. The filling effect is expressed through the densification mechanism, which increases the density of the host sediment. The cementing effect is represented by the enhanced expansion of the yield surface. The yield function incorporates the spacing ratio [Formula: see text] and the teardrop shape parameter [Formula: see text], which govern the shape of the yield surface, as well as the anisotropy angle [Formula: see text], which signifies the anisotropic evolution law. The physical significance of these parameters is also elucidated. The anisotropic evolution is described by an exponential function. The proposed model is compared to both the test results and the existing constitutive model, and it is found that it provides more accurate predictions of the mechanical properties of GHBS.