A state-dependent hypoplastic model for methane hydrate-bearing sands

The mechanical behaviors of methane hydrate-bearing sands (MHBS) are largely affected by the presence of methane hydrate, temperature, and pore pressure. In this study, we present a simple hypoplastic model for MHBS. Methane hydrate saturation is included as a state parameter affecting the mechanical behaviors of MHBS. A new phase parameter is introduced to account for the coupled effects of temperature and pore pressure on the mechanical behaviors of MHBS. The phase parameter can be determined by a simple function of temperature and pore pressure. Comparison of the predictions with experiments shows that the model is able to capture the salient behaviors of MHBS.