Deterioration mechanisms of tuff with surface fractures under freeze–thaw cycles

Abstract

AbstractIn practical engineering, the development of surface cracks is one of the most important reasons for the destruction of the rock mass, and the development of complex morphology fractures on the rock mass surface significantly influences rock mass mechanics. This paper addresses the freeze–thaw damage issue in rock mass containing surface fractures in cold regions. Tuffs and a control group are selected as research samples, with the control group being prefabricated surface jointed specimens with an inclination angle of 70° and a fracture depth ratio d (crack depth) /t (sample width) of 0.26. The study analyzes the mass, wave velocity loss, macro-microcosmic fracture damage morphology, and mechanical properties of the two specimen groups through laboratory freeze–thaw cycle tests, uniaxial compression tests, and scanning electron microscopy examinations. The results show an overall decrease in mass, wave velocity, and uniaxial compressive strength as the cycle number increases, with the prefabricated jointed group samples showing more significant changes. However, the two specimen groups exhibit different macroscopic failure fracture states. In addition, scanning electron microscopy images illustrate that after freeze–thaw cycles, the large rock mass particles break into smaller fragments, resulting in looser particle arrangements and a transition from initial surface cementation to point contact., which weakens the compressive strength of the rock mass. The paper also explains the mechanism of the diminishing impact of freeze–thaw cycles on the strength of the rock mass after a certain number of cycles. The research outcomes hold significant reference value for engineering construction in cold regions.