Study on mechanical behavior and failure mechanism of specimens with single joint subjected to dynamic cyclical loading

Abstract

AbstractJointed rock masses are a common phenomenon in rock engineering and are vulnerable to cyclic loads caused by earthquakes, blasts, and traffic loads. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend the fatigue characteristics of jointed rock masses under dynamic cyclic disturbance for long‐term stability assessments of rock engineering structures. This paper aims to investigate the effects of distinct joint inclinations under pre‐cyclic loading on the strength and failure characteristics of rock‐like specimens using experiments and numerical simulations. The results indicate that cyclic loading decreases the strength of the specimen, and the strength characteristics of the specimen are more apparent as the joint inclination angle becomes smaller. Furthermore, insights into different upper limit stress fatigue behaviors were gained by analyzing strength characteristics, crack propagation characteristics, and failure modes. Numerical results show that the damage degree of cyclic loading at high‐stress levels is linked to the joint inclination angle and carrying capacity of specimens, and high cycle stress levels have an impact on the failure mode of the specimen.