Review of the experimental studies of the cracking behaviors of fractured rocks under compression

In recent years, many useful experimental results on the cracking behaviors of fractured rocks have been obtained via uniaxial, biaxial, triaxial, and split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) tests. In this paper, the influences of the inclination angle of flaws, number of flaws, and patterns of cracks on the mechanical properties during the failure process under static loading and dynamic loading conditions are introduced and reviewed. The results show that the presence of cracks can decrease the strengths of precracked specimens, and the inclination angles, numbers, and crack patterns of preexisting flaws can change the mechanical properties and cracking behaviors of precracked specimens. Under static loading, the closer the inclination angle is to 90°, the greater the strength, the elastic modulus, and the peak strain of the precracked specimen. However, under dynamic loading, the influence of the inclination angle varies, and the strength can increase or decrease, possibly in a V-shaped manner. This change can be determined by multiple factors, such as the loading path, the materials of the precracked specimen, and the number of preexisting cracks. Under dynamic loading, the precracked specimen usually exhibits an X-shaped conjugated failure. Additionally, some problems in the study of the cracking behaviors of fractured rocks and related future research are described and presented, and corresponding suggestions and solutions are given. In particular, excavation in deep rock engineering, support of the rock surrounding the tunnel, and mining engineering have important scientific and engineering significance.