Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics最新文献

{"title":"Deformation–failure and acoustic emission characteristics of tunnels with fracture zones under loading: Analysis of dip angle effects","authors":"Kexue Wang ,&nbsp;Jun Yang ,&nbsp;Yanbo Zhang ,&nbsp;Wenhui Bian ,&nbsp;Xulong Yao","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105428","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105428","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fractured zones are common unfavorable geological structures that pose significant risks to tunnel stability. To investigate the deformation and failure mechanisms of tunnels intersecting fractured zones with different inclinations, a series of rock specimens containing fractured zones at dip angles of 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90° were prepared based on a shallow-buried metro tunnel project. Biaxial compression tests were conducted using acoustic-emission (AE) monitoring and digital image correlation (DIC). The results indicate that the presence of a fractured zone substantially weakens the mechanical properties of the specimens. Relative to the specimens with no fracture zones (NF), the peak strength of the F-30°, F-45°, F-60°, F-75°, and F-90° specimens was reduced by 56.7 %, 45.1 %, 38.1 %, 14.9 %, and 9.8 %, respectively. The evolution of maximum principal strain exhibits pronounced temporal asynchrony and spatial asymmetry, while tensile cracking dominates the failure behavior, accounting for more than 80 % of all cracks. Prior to peak strength, the AF parameter drops sharply, and the proportion of shear cracking reaches its maximum. Analysis of the AE peak-frequency distributions reveals two distinct failure types. Type-I specimens (F-30° and F-45°), dominated by low-frequency events (&gt;95 %), fail primarily through slow, large-scale slip along the fractured-zone interface. Type-II specimens (F-60°, F-75°, F-90°) exhibit high-frequency AE events that are 2–5 times more abundant than in type-I specimens, reflecting intense microcrack initiation, propagation, and coalescence driven by stress concentration at the fractured-zone tips and the tunnel boundary. Two characteristic failure sequences were identified: F–T, in which deformation and failure initiate in the fractured zone prior to the tunnel, and T–F, in which tunnel deformation and failure develop earlier than those in the fractured zone. The results indicate that the inclination of the fractured zone governs the tunnel failure mode and alters the sequence of damage evolution. The F-30°, F-45°, and F-60° specimens follow the F–T sequence, whereas the F-75° and F-90° specimens follow the T–F sequence. These findings provide theoretical insights and practical guidance for instability assessment and support design in tunnels crossing fractured zones</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 105428"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biaxial compression fracture of granite with coupled flaws: mechanisms of synergistic weakening and the critical role of confinement","authors":"Liming Tang ,&nbsp;Zongyu Ma ,&nbsp;Chun'an Tang ,&nbsp;Wenshuo Duan ,&nbsp;Xin Liang ,&nbsp;Xu Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105425","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105425","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The stability of surrounding rock in deep engineering is controlled by the mechanical behavior of defects such as holes and cracks present in hard rocks under multi-axial stress conditions. To elucidate the fracture mechanism of typical hard rock (granite), this study combines biaxial compression physical experiments (incorporating Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technology) with three-dimensional numerical simulations to capture the fracturing process. A comparative analysis was performed on the macroscopic and mesoscopic failure processes of four sample types: hole-crack composite defects, single holes, double cracks, and intact samples. This study found that the peak strength and elastic modulus of the specimens show a decreasing trend with the increase of the proportion of defect volume, with samples exhibiting hole-crack composite defects demonstrating the most significant synergistic deterioration effect. The failure mechanism shifts from shear-slip along closed prefabricated cracks under low confinement (0, 5 MPa) to tensile-initiated opening at high confinement (10, 15 MPa), fundamentally altering the fracture pattern. Full-field strain analysis using DIC indicates that the failure of hole-crack composite defects is dominated by wing cracks originating from the tips of cracks and extending toward the hole walls, whereas the failure of single hole samples is controlled by shear cracks along the hole walls. Numerical simulations at the meso-scale clarify that the interaction between stress concentration at the holes and the brittle propagation path provided by the cracks is the intrinsic mechanism behind the synergistic deterioration phenomenon. Intense shear strain concentration at the hole-crack interface ultimately leads to hole fracture, spalling, and block detachment. The fracturing mechanism of hard rocks with composite defects under high confining pressure revealed in this study provides an important theoretical basis for the assessment and control of stability in surrounding rock for deep engineering projects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 105425"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fracture behavior of thermally-damaged granite containing pre-existing central hole and cross-flaws under uniaxial loading: Experiments and finite difference modeling","authors":"Lan Zeng ,&nbsp;Xuqi Liang ,&nbsp;Shi Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105417","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105417","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The interaction of thermal damage and rock pre-existing flaws in deep underground environments is crucial for understanding deep rock engineering design. Uniaxial load experiments and simulations were performed on granite that had pre-existing central hole and cross-flaws exposed to varying temperatures. Five heterogeneity models of rock masses with different dip angles were established, considering random mineral composition. The thermal damage state of granite subjected to laboratory heat treatments was assessed. The macroscopic crack, represented by softened plastic strain, and the evolution of the displacement field were investigated. The following results were obtained. During the simulated heating at 10 °C/min, thermally induced microcracks occurred due to an increase in plastic tensile strain, while the plastic shear strain was still small until 750 °C. At the same temperature, the relationship between the peak stress and the dip angle was inverted V-shaped. The peak stress increased and decreased with the crack dip angle and reached the maximum at a dip angle of 45°. The stress-strain curves from the experiment and simulation showed similar trends. The failure types consisted of initial shear or tensile failure, followed by tensile-shear failure in the yield softening stage. The evolution of failure modes in heat-treated models is driven by the thermal degradation of key mechanical parameters, including cohesion and tensile strength. Except for the 45° samples, which showed major cracks along the tips of a pre-existing flaws pair in a straight line, all other samples developed cracks at the ends of the pair, near the horizontal direction. The evolution of the <em>Z</em>-direction displacement field and velocity vector showed that the specimen's ultimate failure was caused by crack initiation and propagation along the pre-existing crack tip, followed by sliding. This study provides insights for the stability assessment of deep underground engineering structures affected by high temperature geothermal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 105417"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental study on the crack propagation characteristic of coal specimens with offset cracks and the I-II mixed SIF variation by using ultrafast time-resolution method","authors":"Mingyuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Muao Shen ,&nbsp;Shankun Zhao ,&nbsp;Dejian Li ,&nbsp;Yingjun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105398","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105398","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In coal mining, mixed-mode I-II fractures caused by offset cracks are commonly observed. While previous research has primarily focused on stress intensity factors (SIFs) at the crack tip during fracture initiation, the variation of SIFs during crack propagation has received limited attention. As the SIF is a singular parameter, the precise localization of the crack tip is critical for its determination. However, traditional high-speed photography and visual localization methods often introduce systematic errors in experimental measurements. Therefore, this study employs an ultrafast time-resolution method (15 ps) based on pulsed laser technology combined with an immune algorithm to eliminate such errors and calculate I-II mixed-mode SIFs. Semi-circular bend (SCB) experiments were conducted on coal specimens with offset fractures positioned at 5 mm, 10 mm, and 15 mm from the center. Experimental results demonstrate that both Mode I and Mode II SIFs at crack initiation increase with greater offset distances. Notably, a significant decrease in SIFs is observed after the onset of crack propagation. Additionally, the energy release rates at initiation were measured as 140.77 J/m², 328.45 J/m², and 2063.61 J/m², showing a clear upward trend with increasing offset distance. This paper presents a novel experimental approach for characterizing the coal fracture process and SIF evolution, providing valuable insights for laboratory testing in rock mechanics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 105398"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A study on the fracture mechanical properties and propagation mechanism of coarse aggregate-engineered cementitious composites under preloading","authors":"Zetian Zhang ,&nbsp;Lei Xie ,&nbsp;Xinjian Sun ,&nbsp;Zhenpeng Yu ,&nbsp;Ligang Jing ,&nbsp;Xiaoli Xu ,&nbsp;Yifan Shui","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105362","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105362","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) materials exhibit high ductility, their engineering application is restricted by high shrinkage rates and costs; moreover, under the action of historical loads (e.g., initial static loads), ECC may experience damage before reaching their ultimate bearing capacities. To improve the safety and economic performance of ECC, Coarse Aggregate-ECC (CA-ECC) specimens with 4 different CA contents were prepared in this study, and the effects of 4 different preloading ratios were investigated in order to evaluate the fracture properties of CA-ECC under preloading and to clarify the underlying mechanism from both macro- and micro-perspectives. The results showed that ECC containing CA maintained excellent mechanical properties and deformability, and appropriate preloading can effectively mitigate the negative effects caused by CA. When the CA content was 30 % and the preloading ratio was 60 %, the Crack Mouth Opening Displacement (CMOD) of the specimen retained approximately 35.5 % of that of the original ECC specimen, which was about 30 times that of ordinary concrete. Then, combined with Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and microscopic testing methods, the interface layer between each phase medium and the matrix of CA-ECC was analyzed, and the crack initiation and propagation trends were revealed. Further, by comparing macroscopic properties and microstructural characteristics, the unique “fiber-wrapping-CA” effect in CA-ECC and the influence of preloading on the action mechanism of this effect were clarified. Overall, the findings provide theoretical support for the design and engineering application of ECC materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 105362"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145738588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamic fracture behavior of 3D-printed composites reinforced with continuous fibers","authors":"Mohammad Reza Khosravani ,&nbsp;Sankalp Patil ,&nbsp;Payam Soltani ,&nbsp;Georg Ganzenmüller ,&nbsp;Stefan Hiermaier ,&nbsp;Tamara Reinicke","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105405","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105405","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to analyze the influence of continuous fiber reinforcement on the dynamic behavior of 3D-printed composites. To this end, semicircular bending (SCB) test coupons were designed and printed using the fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique. Particularly, nylon material was used as a matrix in all specimens, while fiberglass was utilized as the reinforced material. Since printing orientation has a significant influence on the mechanical behavior of 3D-printed components, the samples were printed in different directions. In a series of tests, the SCB specimens were impacted using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) with a strain rate of 100 s⁻¹. In this research, a high-speed photograph system was used with a focus on the SCB specimens to capture their deformation behaviors. The results of dynamic three-point bending tests indicate that the maximum force increased by 190.2% and 238.1% in the specimens printed in ZY and YZ orientations, respectively, as a result of fiber reinforcing. The documented outcomes can be used for the design and production of 3D-printed composites with enhanced structural performance and customized mechanical strength.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 105405"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic toughening effect of coarse aggregate and hybrid steel fibres on the evolution of fracture process zone in UHPC under Mode I crack tip deformation","authors":"Kashif Naukhez,&nbsp;R. Vidya Sagar,&nbsp;J.M. Chandra Kishen","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105355","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105355","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article investigates the synergistic toughening effect of coarse aggregate (CA) and steel fibres on fracture process zone (FPZ) development in ultra high performance concrete (UHPC). Two specimens, UHPC without fibres, UHPC(NF), and UHPC with hybrid fibres, UHPC(HB), were tested under Mode I crack tip deformation. Digital image correlation (DIC) and acoustic emission (AE) testing were employed to provide insights into the evolution of FPZ. FPZ length (<span><math><msub><mrow><mi>l</mi></mrow><mrow><mtext>FPZ</mtext></mrow></msub></math></span>) was evaluated using the horizontal displacement gap method, while FPZ and fracture core zone (FCZ) widths were determined from AE event density distributions. In addition, micro-CT analysis was conducted to examine porosity and pore size distribution, as well as their influence on FPZ behaviour. It was observed that the positive synergistic interaction between hybrid fibres and CA governed the FPZ evolution and resulted in a substantially superior work of fracture that exceeded the arithmetic sum of reference mixes. This synergy was likely associated with reduced porosity and ultimately a denser microstructure, leading to a stable post-peak phase and a gradual reduction in <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>l</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>F</mi><mi>P</mi><mi>Z</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> in UHPC(HB) after its full development, in contrast to the rapid decrease in UHPC(NF). This confirmed that the positive synergy is crucial for sustaining residual toughness and stability, thereby encouraging the use of hybrid fibres in UHPC incorporating CA for applications demanding high structural ductility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 105355"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145738645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of mixed-mode I/II translaminar fracture in carbon fibre laminates under biaxial loading","authors":"Yajing Feng ,&nbsp;Chang Lei ,&nbsp;Jinheng Shi ,&nbsp;Youcun Zhao ,&nbsp;Ting Zhang ,&nbsp;Hao cui","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105419","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105419","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the fracture initiation behavior of carbon fibre-reinforced composite laminates under mixed-mode I/II biaxial loading using cruciform specimens with centrally inclined cracks. The combined effects of biaxial load ratio and crack angle were examined by systematically varying both parameters. The fracture energy at crack initiation was quantified using a J-integral–based method coupled with digital image correlation (DIC), and decomposed into Mode I (<span><math><msub><mi>J</mi><mn>1</mn></msub></math></span>) and Mode II (<span><math><msub><mi>J</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></math></span>) components through an energy-based mode partitioning approach. Complementary post-fracture surface analysis and infrared thermography provided further insights into energy dissipation and failure mechanisms. The results reveal that both the total fracture energy (<span><math><msub><mi>J</mi><mi>total</mi></msub></math></span>) and the shear contribution (<span><math><msub><mi>J</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></math></span>) increase with crack angle and biaxial load ratio, indicating a progressive transition from opening- to shear-dominated fracture initiation. The thermographic and morphological observations corroborate the energy decomposition, confirming a strong correspondence between mode mixity evolution and local energy release processes. Based on these findings, a unified fracture energy criterion incorporating explicit dependence on crack angle and load ratio was established. The proposed criterion offers a physically grounded and experimentally supported framework for characterizing mixed-mode fracture initiation in composite laminates under complex multiaxial loading conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 105419"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A critical assessment of J-integral and CBBM validity in fracture characterization of brittle, ductile, and flexible adhesives","authors":"B.G.A. Reket ,&nbsp;A. Akhavan-Safar ,&nbsp;B. Hasumi ,&nbsp;M. Ferreira ,&nbsp;B.D. Simões ,&nbsp;V.C.M.B. Rodrigues ,&nbsp;R.J.C. Carbas ,&nbsp;E.A.S. Marques ,&nbsp;O. van der Sluis ,&nbsp;L.F.M. da Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105395","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105395","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fracture characterization methods across adhesives from brittle to highly ductile reveals critical inconsistencies in widely accepted approaches, namely J-integral and Compliance-Based Beam Method (CBBM). While both methods are generally considered acceptable for fracture analysis across various adhesive types, this work demonstrates that such assumptions can be misleading and potentially unsafe. Using Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) specimens, the fracture energy during crack propagation was evaluated for each method. The results reveal a previously underexplored limitation: both methods exhibit major discrepancies when applied to adhesives with significant plasticity, with fracture energy differences reaching up to 50%, and even higher for highly flexible systems. Critically, the study shows that the use of an inappropriate data reduction method can significantly overestimate or underestimate fracture energy, potentially leading to over-conservative or dangerously non-conservative joint designs. Despite being based on linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), CBBM consistently outperformed the more general J-integral by producing equivalent crack lengths that closely reflect the effect of fracture process zone. In contrast, the J-integral method was found to underestimate fracture energy in highly ductile adhesives due to its inability to capture the full extent of the plastic zone. This work is the first to quantitatively demonstrate these risks and method-dependent inaccuracies across a wide range of adhesive systems, providing a clear recommendation for CBBM in cases of highly ductile and flexible adhesives. These findings offer important practical guidance for researchers and engineers seeking reliable fracture characterization in the design of adhesively bonded structures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 105395"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanical properties and fracture evolution of V-shaped intersecting fractured sandstone under dry and saturated conditions","authors":"Ruiqing Hao ,&nbsp;Ping Cao ,&nbsp;Guorui Feng ,&nbsp;Hua Wang ,&nbsp;Jin Jin ,&nbsp;Wenpu Li ,&nbsp;Yixian Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105371","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2025.105371","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The distribution pattern of cracks within a rock mass significantly influences its mechanical properties and the evolution of fracture processes. Additionally, the presence of groundwater can adversely affect the rock mass, thereby affecting the stability of rock engineering structures. To investigate the effects of the angle between V-shaped intersecting cracks and groundwater on the mechanical properties and fracture failure modes of sandstone, uniaxial compression tests were performed on both dry and saturated sandstone samples. The findings reveal that while both intersecting cracks and groundwater contribute to the deterioration of sandstone properties, the primary influence on the mechanical behavior of the samples is attributed to the intersecting cracks themselves. Specifically, the trends in fracture initiation stress, peak stress, and elastic modulus of sandstone with V-shaped intersecting cracks, under both dry and saturated conditions, exhibit a similar pattern, characterized by an initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease as the fracture angle increases. Furthermore, the failure mode observed in sandstone samples with V-shaped intersecting cracks is predominantly tensile failure, mirroring the crack patterns identified in samples featuring inclined single cracks. Notably, the presence of groundwater alters the failure mechanism of sandstone samples with V-shaped intersecting cracks, transitioning it to a tensile-shear failure mode while also reducing the incidence of far-field cracking and surface peeling in the samples.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 105371"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}