Micro-bond contact model and its parameters for the deep-sea methane hydrate bearing soils

Methane hydrate (MH), which has significant influences on the strength of methane hydrate bearing soils, exits mainly in the form of cement materials between soil particles. Hence, the study of bond mechanical behavior of MH between soil particles is significant to the research of methane hydrate bearing soils, of which the key point is the determination of the micro-contact model and corresponding bond parameters of MH. First, a micro-bond contact model is introduced to reflect the contact properties of the soil particles. Second, the strengths and elastic modulus of MH (such as the tensile strength、compressive strength, shear strength and torsion strength) are obtained through the literatures about methane hydrate triaxial tests. Finally, micro bond parameters needed by the contact model are obtained. The results show that the micro bond parameters of gas hydrate are determined by the saturation and strength parameters of gas hydrate, which can be obtained through the temperature, density of hydrate and its burial depth which are easy to be determined.