Original Paper(Vol.57 No.3 pp.237-242)

An Elasto-Viscoplastic Constitutive Model and Its Appli‚ƒation to the Sample Obtained from the Seabed Ground at Nankai Trough

Fusao OKA and Sayuri KIMOTO

Abstract:Methane hydrates are presently viewed as a potential energy resource for the 21st century because an amount of methane gas is trapped in hydrate reservoirs around Nankai trough. Geotechnical survey has been conducted around Nankai trough in order to obtain background information of the Methane hydrate layers. In the present study, an elaso-viscoplastic model for soil is applied to the triaxial test results of the samples from Nankai trough. In the model, softening due to structural degradation of the soil, and kinematic hardening are considered. Simulation results shows the applicability of the model to the deep seabed soil.

Key Words:Elasto-viscoplastic, Constitutive model, Methane hydrate