Author
Listed:
- Jianyang Wu
(Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Xiamen University
Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
- Fulong Ning
(Faculty of Engineering, China University of Geosciences)
- Thuat T. Trinh
(Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
- Signe Kjelstrup
(Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
- Thijs J. H. Vlugt
(Process and Energy Laboratory, Delft University of Technology)
- Jianying He
(Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
- Bjørn H. Skallerud
(Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
- Zhiliang Zhang
(Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
Abstract
Despite observations of massive methane release and geohazards associated with gas hydrate instability in nature, as well as ductile flow accompanying hydrate dissociation in artificial polycrystalline methane hydrates in the laboratory, the destabilising mechanisms of gas hydrates under deformation and their grain-boundary structures have not yet been elucidated at the molecular level. Here we report direct molecular dynamics simulations of the material instability of monocrystalline and polycrystalline methane hydrates under mechanical loading. The results show dislocation-free brittle failure in monocrystalline hydrates and an unexpected crossover from strengthening to weakening in polycrystals. Upon uniaxial depressurisation, strain-induced hydrate dissociation accompanied by grain-boundary decohesion and sliding destabilises the polycrystals. In contrast, upon compression, appreciable solid-state structural transformation dominates the response. These findings provide molecular insight not only into the metastable structures of grain boundaries, but also into unusual ductile flow with hydrate dissociation as observed during macroscopic compression experiments.
Suggested Citation
Jianyang Wu & Fulong Ning & Thuat T. Trinh & Signe Kjelstrup & Thijs J. H. Vlugt & Jianying He & Bjørn H. Skallerud & Zhiliang Zhang, 2015.
"Mechanical instability of monocrystalline and polycrystalline methane hydrates,"
Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10, December.
Handle:
RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9743
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9743
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Cited by:
- Qureshi, M Fahed & Khandelwal, Himanshu & Usadi, Adam & Barckholtz, Timothy A. & Mhadeshwar, Ashish B. & Linga, Praveen, 2022.
"CO2 hydrate stability in oceanic sediments under brine conditions,"
Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
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