The mechanical properties of water-rich coal and rock in a subzero environment are very different from those at room temperature, which causes many unexpected hazards for projects. In this study, coal and rock samples subjected to the coupled effects of water, temperature, and dynamic loads were taken as the research object, and the discussion was shaped around their mechanical properties. The crack evolution trend and different gradient impact velocities were determined using a split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). Multiple fractals were based on high-speed digital image correlation (HS-DIC) technology and the quality-screening method; the evolution trend of the surface cracks in the crushing process and the distribution characteristics of the specimen fragments after crushing were examined from the perspective of fractals. This provided a powerful supplement to the existing research system on the problem of mining via the freezing method, and it accounted for the shortcomings of the existing research to a certain extent. In this research, the results mainly showed four points: (1) The coal samples were determined to have a wave velocity between 1.68 and 2.01 km/s, while the rock samples were between 2.24 and 2.61 km/s. Under the same conditions, the rock’s resistance to deformation and damage was greater than that of coal. (2) In the saturated state, the plastic strength of the coal and rock samples was greater than that in the dry state, due to the strengthening of their internal stresses caused by the presence of fissure water. (3) With decreasing temperature, the degree of the dynamic compression factor of coal and rock showed a trend of initially increasing, then decreasing, and then increasing. With the increase in the loading rate, the destruction of the coal and rock was more intense, and the destruction process was accelerated. (4) After the saturated coal and rock samples were frozen, their interiors were affected by the dual factors of contraction under the influence of temperature and expansion under the influence of the freezing expansion force. The internal fissures closed or shrank, and the water in the pores turned into ice, leading to an increase in pore volume.

The anisotropic fracture characteristics of oil shale are crucial in determining reservoir modification parameters and pyrolysis efficiency during in situ oil shale pyrolysis. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms through which temperature and bedding planes influence the fracture behavior of oil shale is vital for advancing the industrialization of in situ pyrolysis technology. In this study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), CT scanning, and a real-time high-temperature rock fracture toughness testing system were utilized to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of pores and fractures in oil shale across a temperature range of 20–600 °C, as well as the corresponding evolution of fracture behavior. The results revealed the following: (1) At ambient temperature, oil shale primarily contains inorganic pores and fractures, with sizes ranging from 50 to 140 nm. In the low-temperature range (20–200 °C), heating primarily causes the inward closure of inorganic pores and the expansion of inorganic fractures along bedding planes. In the medium-temperature range (200–400 °C), organic pores and fractures begin to form at around 300 °C, and after 400 °C, the number of organic fractures increases significantly, predominantly along bedding planes. In the high-temperature range (400–600 °C), the number, size, and connectivity of matrix pores and fractures increase markedly with rising temperature, and clay minerals exhibit adhesion, forming vesicle-like structures. (2) At room temperature, fracture toughness is highest in the Arrester direction (K_IC-Arr), followed by the Divider direction (K_IC-Div), and lowest in the Short-Transverse direction (K_IC-Shor). As the temperature increases from 20 °C to 600 °C, both K_IC-Arr and K_IC-Div initially decrease before increasing, reaching their minimum values at 400 °C and 500 °C, respectively, while K_IC-Shor decreases continuously as the temperature increases. (3) The energy required for prefabricated cracks to propagate to failure in all three directions reaches a minimum at 100 °C. Beyond 100 °C, the absorbed energy for crack propagation along the Divider and Short-Transverse directions continues to increase, whereas for cracks propagating in the Arrester direction, the absorbed energy exhibits a ‘W-shaped’ pattern, with troughs at 100 °C and 400 °C. These findings provide essential data for reservoir modification during in situ oil shale pyrolysis.

Real-time high-temperature CT scanning and a rock-mechanics test system were employed to investigate the mechanical properties of oil shale at temperatures from 20 to 600 °C. The results reveal that up to 400 °C, the aperture of fractures initially decreases and then increases when loading is perpendicular to the bedding. However, the number and aperture continuously increase when loading is parallel to the bedding. Beyond 400 °C, the number of pores increases and the aperture of the fractures becomes larger with rising temperature. The changes in microstructures significantly impact the mechanical properties. Between 20 and 600 °C, the compressive strength, elastic modulus, and Poisson’s ratio initially decrease and then increase under perpendicular and parallel bedding loadings. The compressive strength and elastic modulus reach minimum values at 400 °C. However, for Poisson’s ratio, the minimum occurs at 500 °C and 200 °C under perpendicular and parallel bedding loadings, respectively. Simultaneously, while the crack damage stress during perpendicular bedding loading, σ_cd-per, initially exhibits an upward trend followed by a decline and subsequently increases again with temperature increasing, the initial stress during perpendicular bedding loading, σ_ci-per, parallel bedding loading, σ_ci-par, and damage stress, σ_cd-par, decrease initially and then increase, reaching minimum values at 400 °C. These research findings provide essential data for reservoir reconstruction and cementing technology in the in situ mining of oil shale.