Mechanical Performance of Methane Hydrate–Coal Mixture

Understanding mechanical behaviors of a methane hydrate–coal mixture are important for its associated application in coal and gas outburst prevention. A triaxial compression apparatus for a specimen of the methane hydrate–coal mixture was developed to measure its strength and deformation properties. Triaxial compression tests were performed on coal briquette samples under different confining pressures and methane hydrate saturation. Strain softening behavior of the methane hydrate–coal mixture can be identified for all the specimens under various conditions. The larger the methane hydrate saturation or confining pressure, the larger the peak strength, elastic modulus and peak strain. Mathematical relationships for correlating the peak strength with the methane hydrate saturation or confining pressure were also proposed.