Study on mechanical properties of interbedded rock masses with microcrack based on thermal-mechanical coupling

The mechanical properties of deep rock masses are significantly influenced by temperature and other factors. The effect of temperature on the strength of deep rock masses will pose a serious challenge to deep resource exploitation and engineering construction. In this paper, the thermal-mechanical coupling calculation model is established by particle flow code (PFC2D) to study the uniaxial compression response of rock masses with microcracks after temperature load. The strength of failure, microcracks, and strain was analyzed. The results show that: (i) When the soft rock thickness ratio Hs/H < 0.5, the displacement caused by the applied temperature is concentrated at the structural plane, and the contact force is concentrated at the end of the initial microcrack. When Hs/H ≥ 0.5, the displacement caused by the applied temperature is concentrated on both sides of the initial microcrack, and the contact force is concentrated in the hard rock area. (ii) The number of microcracks decreases with the increase of soft rock thickness under different working conditions. When the soft rock thickness ratio Hs/H < 0.5, the relationship curve between the number of microcracks and the vertical strain shows two stages of change. When Hs/H ≥ 0.5, the relationship curve between the number of cracks and the vertical strain changes shows three stages of change. (iii) When the soft rock thickness ratio Hs/H < 0.5, the failure strength decreases with the increase of soft rock thickness ratio at T = 100°C and 200°C. When T = 300°C and 400°C, the failure strength decreased first and then increased. When Hs/H ≥ 0.5, the failure strength increases with the increase of soft rock thickness at T = 200°C, 300°C, and 400°C. At T = 100°C, the failure strength decreases with the increase of soft rock thickness.