A novel integrated multi-physics parameter testing system for monitoring the deformation and failure characteristics of hydrate-bearing sediments.
Zhai Siyu S, Bu Qingtao Q, Liu Xiaoli X, Wang Xiujuan X et al.
Natural gas hydrates mostly exist in marine sediments as cemented or load-bearing structures, with stability highly susceptible to temperature-pressure variations. Hydrate-production-driven reservoir deformation and failure can trigger submarine geohazards such as submarine landslides, whereas methane leakage aggravates global warming and marine ecological degradation. Hence, clarifying the deformation-failure mechanisms of hydrate-bearing sediments (HBS) is critically essential. Existing studies have adopted acoustic and mechanical tests for HBS characterization, yet internal damage evolution during deformation remains poorly understood. Most previous studies adopt single-source data and conventional mechanical parameters, lacking in situ multi-physics monitoring for internal damage, which prevents quantitative links between micro-scale sediment damage and macro-scale specimen failure. This study develops an integrated testing system to synchronously acquire multi-physics signals (acoustic and mechanical) over the full deformation-failure course of HBS. This unified platform realizes automated multi-dimensional data collection, in situ hydrate formation, and triaxial shear measurements. Validation tests are performed on homogeneous sandy HBS specimens. Combined analyses of acoustic-emission and ultrasonic-velocity multi-source data overcome single-method limitations, advance mechanistic understanding, and uncover HBS deformation-failure patterns. This work supplies systematic multi-source data for geological-hazard prevention in hydrate exploitation.