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Experimental Study on Damage Evolution Characteristics of Granite Under Short-Term Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Xianda Yang1, Peng Zeng1,2, Kui Zhao1,2
1School of Mining Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 14, 2026
Summary
Short-term freeze-thaw cycles degrade granite strength, impacting rock engineering. Longer freeze-thaw durations and more cycles reduce strength and elastic modulus, necessitating advanced damage assessment methods.
Area of Science:
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Short-term freeze-thaw cycles pose risks to rock engineering structures.
- Rock strength degradation in freeze-thaw zones can lead to engineering disasters.
- Understanding granite's response to freeze-thaw is crucial for infrastructure safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of freeze-thaw duration and cycle number on granite's physical and mechanical properties.
- To analyze the acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of granite under freeze-thaw conditions.
- To develop a more reliable method for assessing freeze-thaw damage in rocks.
Main Methods:
- Freeze-thaw cycle tests were conducted on granite with varying durations (1h, 2h, 3h).
- Uniaxial compression tests combined with acoustic emission (AE) monitoring were performed.
- A multi-index damage characterization system was established and evaluated.
Main Results:
- Peak strength and elastic modulus of granite decreased with increased freeze-thaw duration and cycle number.
- Acoustic emission (AE) cumulative ringing count rate and energy rate exhibited exponential decay with freeze-thaw progression.
- The proportion of AE characteristics increased with freeze-thaw duration and cycle number.
Conclusions:
- Both freeze-thaw duration and cycle number significantly attenuate granite's peak strength and elastic modulus.
- AE characteristics provide insights into the damage evolution process under freeze-thaw cycles.
- A multi-index coupled damage variable enhances the objectivity and reliability of freeze-thaw damage assessment compared to single-index methods.
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