Investigation into the Fracturing Process of Intact Rocks under various Stress Conditions

With the increasing demand for mineral resources and consumption of shallow resources, mining activities are shifting towards deep underground operations. A thorough understanding of rock behaviour and fracture process in such environments is crucial for the safe and sustainable design of underground constructions. This thesis advances the current understanding of brittle failure through analytical-experimental studies on brittle rocks. The outcomes of this research contribute to the effective management of risks associated with brittle fracturing in engineering practice, and the establishment of a hierarchy of controls to mitigate safety hazards.