TY - JOUR
TI - PFC/FLAC 3-D coupled flexibility for natural gas hydrate numerical simulation triaxial experimental study
AU - Ao Tian-Xiang
AU - Gao Ming-Zhong
AU - Le Zhao
AU - Xu Meng
AU - Yang Yi-Kun
AU - Qi Ming-Zhu
JN - Thermal Science
PY - 2025
VL - 29
IS - 2
SP - 1345
EP - 1350
PT - Article
AB - In this study, based on the PFC-FLAC discrete-continuous coupled analysis  method, we constructed a model of gas hydrate-bearing sediments (GHBS) and  conducted triaxial compression numerical simulation experiments. The  results show that high confining pressure (>5 MPa) destroys the cementation  of hydrate, and the stiffness of GHBS specimens increases with increasing  confining pressure. The strength and stiffness of highly saturated (>40%)  GHBS specimens increase with the increase of saturation, but the destructive  brittleness increases as well. In terms of microscopic contact force, the  enclosing pressure effect inhibits the particle motion and the GHBS  specimens show anisotropy after loading damage. The results of this study  contribute to a better understanding and prediction of the macroscopic and  microscopic mechanical properties of gas hydrate sediments, which is of  great significance for the safe and efficient exploitation of gas hydrates.