Shear Modulus of a Carbonate Sand–Silt Mixture with THF Hydrate

The maximum shear modulus (Gmax) is an important factor determining soil deformation, and it closely related to engineering safety seafloor stability. In this study, a series of bender element tests was carried out investigate the Gmax hydrate-bearing carbonate sand (CS)–silt mixture. mixture adopted CS:silt ratio 1:4 by weight mimic fine-grained deposit South China Sea (SCS). Tetrahydrofuran (THF) used form hydrate. Special specimen preparation procedures were THF hydrate inside intraparticle voids CS. test results indicate that contributed significant part skeletal stiffness CS–silt mixture, its at 5% saturation (Sh) 4–6 times host Such enhancement low Sh may be cementation morphology. However, also sensitive effective stress for ranging between 31%, implying frame-supporting morphology plays key role in Neither existing models nor theoretical (i.e., Biot–Gassmann theory Lee (BGTL)), could alone provide satisfactory prediction results. Thus, further study involving combination essential understand effects complicated morphologies on with substantial amount voids.