Effect of moisture content on the rockburst intensity of sandstones

Rockburst is a common geological hazard in deep underground engineering, and it often occurs in strata consisting of brittle rocks. In this study, the moisture content effect on the rockburst intensity of sandstones is systematically studied. A series of triaxial unloading compression tests along with the acoustic emission monitoring are performed for sandstone specimens with different moisture content levels. The mechanical properties, failure characteristics, and dilatancy behaviors of sandstone specimens are then properly compared. Comparative results reveal that the triaxial compressive strength and total strain energy of the saturated specimen decrease by about 30