Fatigue properties analysis of cracked rock based on fracture evolution process

Fracture evolution process (initiation, propagation and coalescence) of cracked rock was observed and the force- displacement curves of cracked rock were measured under uniaxial cyclic loading. The tested specimens made of sandstone-like modeling material contained three pre-existing intermittent cracks with different geometrical distributions. The experimental results indicate that the fatigue deformation limit corresponding to the maximal cyclic load is equal to that of post-peak locus of static complete force?displacement curve; the fatigue deformation process can be divided into three stages: initial deformation, constant deformation rate and accelerative deformation; the time of fracture initiation, propagation and coalescence corresponds to the change of irreversible deformation.