Stress-induced instability is associated with rock damage. Here, the progressive brittle fracturing process in Jinping marble is studied by introducing two types of true triaxial pre-peak unloading tests, namely, the incrementally cyclic loading-unloading minimum principal stress test (ICM test) and the incrementally cyclic loading-unloading maximum and minimum principal stress test (ICMM test). By comprehensively analysing the irreversible strains, dissipated energy, acoustic emission (AE) characteristics and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results, the rock damage evolution can be quantified and divided into two distinctive damage stages. At the boundary point, the irreversible strain increments reach their minimum values. In the gentle damage stage, the normalized irreversible strains increase linearly, and this process is associated with a small number of AE hits with low amplitude. The rapid damage stage is characterized by a nonlinear increase in the normalized irreversible strains, and this process is associated with a large number of AE hits with high amplitude. The dissipated energy mainly increases in the rapid damage stage. In addition, the rapid damage stage in the ICMM test mainly occurs in the last five cycles, due to the differences in the deviatoric stresses in each cycle. In both of these tests, the failure mode is principally characterized by tensile failure. Moreover, the precursory signals of rock fracturing and the influence of the loading paths on the strength are discussed.

Deep underground engineering encounters substantial layered hard rock formations, and the engineering triaxial stress path involves an increase in maximum principal stress, constant intermediate principal stress, and a decrease in minimum principal stress. However, previous research has focused on rock layer angles under conventional triaxial stress conditions, disregarding the influence of foliation strike angles in engineering triaxial stress scenarios. This study experimentally investigates the effects of foliation strike angles on layered hard rock under an engineering triaxial stress path. To account for the brittleness of layered hard rock, we propose a specific small sample-processing method tailored to the foliation strike angle. True triaxial loading tests are conducted on steep, thin slate samples with two different loading orientations, accompanied by acoustic emission monitoring. Results indicate that the strength under a traditional true triaxial compression condition is similar for specimens with 90° and 0° strike angles. Stress–strain curves show that larger deformations occur perpendicular to bedding planes, while surface fractures propagate exclusively along the bedding planes. Mechanical responses differ significantly between specimens subjected to the engineering triaxial stress path at 0° and 90° strike angles compared to conventional true triaxial loading tests, with a lower bearing capacity and differentiated intermediate and minimum principal strains in the 0° case. Conversely, the 90° case exhibits a higher bearing capacity, consistent deformation, and more acoustic emission events. Numerical simulations comparing plastic zone sizes during actual underground excavation support these conclusions. These findings highlight the effects of foliation strike angles, favoring the 90° strike-angle configuration for excavation activities and providing enhanced stability in the surrounding rock mass.

With the increasing number of deep rock engineering projects, many different types of tunnels have emerged, such as cross-tunnels. These tunnels intersect with each other in rock, which causes potential safety hazards. We must analyze the stability of the surrounding rock, to ensure worker safety. This article presents a method for dynamically assessing the stability of the surrounding rock in deep-buried cross-tunnels. The method consists of two main analysis steps: (1) P-wave velocity field inversion; and (2) Stability analysis of the surrounding rock. The P-wave velocity field inversion involves inverting the S-wave velocity field by Rayleigh wave and inverting the P-wave velocity field by adjoint state traveltime tomography. Then, a method of stability analysis is proposed which is used to update the mechanical properties of the rock (based on the continuously updated wave velocity field). The elastic modulus of the surrounding rock is approximated throughout the excavation process. CASRock V1.0 (Cellular Automation Software for engineering Rockmass fracturing processes) is used to assess rock damage via the equivalent plastic shear strain and local energy release rate. The new method is used to analyze the stability of a new tunnel excavated in Jinping (in China). The results reveal the severity and spatial distribution of the damage caused. The yield depth is concentrated near the sidewalls, while the top and bottom of the tunnel exhibit a smaller depth. The yield depths present a particular pattern of change (high–low–high–low) with increasing distance from tunnel #2. Finally, this research enriches our understanding of excavating deep cross-tunnels and makes an important contribution to improving worker safety in deep cross-tunnels.

Understanding the time-dependent characteristics of Beishan granite after excavation is critically important for the long-term stability and disaster control of the high-level radioactive waste repository. In this context, a series of creep tests under different unloading paths are designed to simulate the time-dependent behavior of rock mass after excavation. Results show that the instantaneous volume deformation under each loading step is greatly influenced by the unloading path. Moreover, the unloading path has minor effects on the creep strain. The axial and lateral creep strain is dominated by creep fracture potential, which can be characterized by a unified time-dependent fracture potential index (⁠ $ξTFPI$⁠) for different stress states. It is observed that the creep strain generally increases with increasing $ξTFPI$⁠. In order to describe the fracture mechanism during the creep process, a damage mechanical model based on time-dependent subcritical crack growth theory is adopted. It reveals that the strain hardening behavior dominates the granite creep process, and the strain softening effect is gradually strengthened with increasing $ξTFPI$⁠.