Rowe’s Stress-Dilatancy Theory for Hydrate-Bearing Sand

This note examines the strength characteristics of hydrate-bearing sands using Rowe’s 1962 stress-dilatancy theory. The model was examined through comparison with experimental results, covering a wide range of hydrate saturations and different hydrate formation methods. Using the model, and based on measured volumetric strains with shearing, the stress–strain response was predicted without using a cohesion component in the Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria, using the same friction value, regardless of hydrate saturation. This infers that kinematics, rather than cementation, may possibly be a key point in understanding the effect of hydrate on the apparent strength.