Investigating the Macro-Micromechanical Properties and Failure Law of Granite under Loading and Unloading Conditions

The excavation of rock significantly changes the initial stress state of rock slopes, which makes rock in complex loading and unloading conditions. However, the failure mechanisms and macro-micromechanical properties of rock under loading and unloading conditions are not very clear. This study investigates the macro-micromechanical properties and failure law of granite under loading and unloading conditions through traditional laboratory tests and particle flow simulations. Granite specimens are taken from Shuichang iron mine, and stress unloading experiments are designed based on the engineering practices. The stress-strain curves and failure modes under different confining pressures and unloading paths are obtained to analyze the granite properties from the viewpoint of the macroscopic mechanism. Moreover, numerical models are established in PFC software. The microcracks developments, failure characteristics, and energy evolutions under loading and unloading conditions are obtained and discussed. Results show that compared with the loading tests, the brittle failure characteristics of specimens under unloading tests are more obvious. When the confining pressure reduces to about 66% of the initial confining pressure, the specimen loses its load-bearing capacity and destroyed due to the lateral expansion. For loading tests, an inclined plane can be produced as the main failure surface. While for confining pressure unloading tests, there are many damage zones parallel to or intersecting with the main failure surface.