Analysis of unloading failure mechanical characteristics in columnar jointed rock mass
Abstract
This study fabricated columnar jointed rock mass specimens with varying joint inclination angles using rock-like materials and conducted triaxial unloading tests under different initial confining pressures and unloading rates to investigate their mechanical characteristics under various conditions. The results indicate: (1) As the initial confining pressure increases, the peak strength of the specimens gradually rises, and the elastic modulus progressively increases. With increasing joint inclination angle, both the peak strength and elastic modulus of the specimens exhibit a "U"-shaped trend, initially decreasing and then increasing. (2) Under triaxial unloading conditions, the stress–strain curve of columnar jointed rock mass shows an inflection point at the unloading stage, where the elastic modulus suddenly increases, and the specimen volume transitions from compression to expansion. The strength of columnar jointed rock mass under triaxial unloading conditions is lower than that under conventional triaxial compression conditions. Moreover, as the unloading rate increases, the specimen strength gradually decreases, and the characteristics of brittle failure become more pronounced.
Related
- Failure Evolution and Fractal Damage Characteristics of Bolt-Reinforced Rock Under True-Triaxial Single-Face Unloading
- Temporary Left Ventricular Unloading With Impella as a Bridge to Emergency Surgery for Acute Mitral Bioprosthetic Failure
- Deformation and damage characteristics of coal during conventional triaxial unloading under different confining pressures
- TBM excavation-induced deformation and failure of jointed surrounding rock: mechanisms and control measures
- Mechanical properties and failure characteristics of geocells: A comparative experimental study
BibTeX
@article{ma2026analysis,
title = {{Analysis of unloading failure mechanical characteristics in columnar jointed rock mass}},
author = {Shaojie Ma and Yongbang Yuan and Yan Zhou and Depeng Ma and Junyan Kang},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-73402-0},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-73402-0},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Analysis of unloading failure mechanical characteristics in columnar jointed rock mass
AU - Shaojie Ma
AU - Yongbang Yuan
AU - Yan Zhou
AU - Depeng Ma
AU - Junyan Kang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-73402-0
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-73402-0
AB - This study fabricated columnar jointed rock mass specimens with varying joint inclination angles using rock-like materials and conducted triaxial unloading tests under different initial confining pressures and unloading rates to investigate their mechanical characteristics under various conditions. The results indicate: (1) As the initial confining pressure increases, the peak strength of the specimens gradually rises, and the elastic modulus progressively increases. With increasing joint inclination angle, both the peak strength and elastic modulus of the specimens exhibit a "U"-shaped trend, initially decreasing and then increasing. (2) Under triaxial unloading conditions, the stress–strain curve of columnar jointed rock mass shows an inflection point at the unloading stage, where the elastic modulus suddenly increases, and the specimen volume transitions from compression to expansion. The strength of columnar jointed rock mass under triaxial unloading conditions is lower than that under conventional triaxial compression conditions. Moreover, as the unloading rate increases, the specimen strength gradually decreases, and the characteristics of brittle failure become more pronounced.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -