Variations of the cosmic ray composition at energy above 0.1 EeV as observed by muon detectors of Yakutsk array

The lateral distribution of muons with ~1.0x\sec(\theta) GeV in extensive air showers within ~10^{17}-10^{19} eV energy region obtained during different observational periods from November 1987 to June 2013 has been analyzed. Experimental data have been compared to predictions of various hadron interaction models. The best agreement is observed with QGSJETII-04. Until 1996, the mass composition of cosmic rays with energy below 2x10^{18} eV was significantly lighter than in later periods.