Study on the Crack Propagation Mechanism of Single Cracks in Red Sandstone Based on Stress Field Evolution Characteristics

Study on the Crack Propagation Mechanism of Single Cracks in Red Sandstone Based on Stress Field Evolution Characteristics | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Study on the Crack Propagation Mechanism of Single Cracks in Red Sandstone Based on Stress Field Evolution Characteristics Wenhua Zha, Yichao Cao, Tao Xu, Bingwen Wang, Xuejiao Tan This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8335682/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 13 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract To elucidate the influence of fracture dip angle on the mechanical response of red sandstone and the mechanism of crack evolution, this study employs the discrete element software PFC2D to construct a single-fracture sandstone model. Numerical uniaxial compression tests are conducted under varying fracture dip angles α. By integrating the ‘stress field–microcrack’ coupling criterion with fracture initiation displacement field characteristics, the study quantitatively derives the segmented enhancement patterns of peak strength and fracture initiation stress, systematically elucidating the mechanisms of microcrack initiation and propagation. Results indicate that both peak strength and initiation stress increase overall with rising α, exhibiting a gradual increase when α ≤ 45° and a significant rise when α > 45°. Crack propagation follows a pattern in which wing-type cracks initiate first, followed by dominant secondary coplanar cracks that achieve full penetration. The initiation location shifts from the mid-section of the fracture (α < 30°) to the fracture tip (α ≥ 30°) as α increases. Microcrack numbers exhibited exponential growth, though tensile cracks predominated, leading to tensile failure of the rock specimens. Stress evolution and crack propagation initially showed non-coincidence at α ≤ 30°, where stress concentration at the tip was counteracted by elevated failure thresholds due to high normal clamping forces, favouring initiation in the low-constraint zone near the fissure surface. As loading progressed, crack evolution progressively aligned with high-stress pathways. At α ≥ 45°, crack propagation closely followed the evolution path of high-stress zones. During initial cracking, the instantaneous displacement of particles around the fissure decreased with increasing α, indicating diminished crack-induced initiation. As the fissure dip angle increased, the strain required for the first acoustic emission signal grew, the strain range for emission events narrowed, and the peak ringing count increased. This study elucidates the influence of fracture dip angle on rock microcrack mechanisms, providing theoretical support for assessing the stability of fractured rock masses and ensuring the safety of underground engineering construction. Physical sciences/Engineering Physical sciences/Materials science Earth and environmental sciences/Solid earth sciences Fracture dip angle PFC2D Single-fracture rock Crack propagation Stress field Displacement field Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 02 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 09 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 08 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 26 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 19 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 15 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 15 Jan, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 15 Jan, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 12 Dec, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 12 Dec, 2025 First submitted to journal 11 Dec, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8335682","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":576981408,"identity":"a7303ccb-cb3c-450a-b79e-06d4b5e71f05","order_by":0,"name":"Wenhua Zha","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"East China University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Wenhua","middleName":"","lastName":"Zha","suffix":""},{"id":576981409,"identity":"229c4a79-a1da-45fe-83c8-601264eac53f","order_by":1,"name":"Yichao Cao","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAxklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACNmb+hw8+VEjIybM3HyBOCx87D7PhjDM2xoY9xxKI0yLHz8MmzdmWlshwI8eAWIfxHjZmOHM4gbEh5+ONNwx2croNBLXwJT4uqDicx85wdrPlHIZkY7MDBLUwGBvPOHO4mLGxd5s0D8OBxG1EaDGT5m07nNhwmOcZsVp4QFrSEhuOAcOBSC1sydBAZjO2nGNAhF/k+w8fhESl/OOHN95U2MkR1IICJHiIjBpkLaTqGAWjYBSMghEBALHYQC2ryq0WAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"East China University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yichao","middleName":"","lastName":"Cao","suffix":""},{"id":576981410,"identity":"a375aa6e-4afc-40df-a7a0-3b4872459155","order_by":2,"name":"Tao Xu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"East China University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tao","middleName":"","lastName":"Xu","suffix":""},{"id":576981411,"identity":"3e60f500-c36b-4179-a2b7-cd3827bed473","order_by":3,"name":"Bingwen Wang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"East China University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Bingwen","middleName":"","lastName":"Wang","suffix":""},{"id":576981412,"identity":"be648447-15a2-4674-a130-68367e44c7ca","order_by":4,"name":"Xuejiao Tan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"East China University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xuejiao","middleName":"","lastName":"Tan","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-12-11 10:39:24","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8335682/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8335682/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":100671013,"identity":"d990c272-148a-4a75-b9e4-4dd5bc4c8c3b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 10:28:06","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":6706335,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"StudyontheCrackPropagationMechanismofSingleCracksinRedSandstoneBasedonStressFieldEvolutionCharacteristics.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8335682/v1_covered_da6eab40-bc70-4fb5-9f84-926f5df8321a.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Study on the Crack Propagation Mechanism of Single Cracks in Red Sandstone Based on Stress Field Evolution Characteristics","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Fracture dip angle, PFC2D, Single-fracture rock, Crack propagation, Stress field, Displacement field","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8335682/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8335682/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"To elucidate the influence of fracture dip angle on the mechanical response of red sandstone and the mechanism of crack evolution, this study employs the discrete element software PFC2D to construct a single-fracture sandstone model. Numerical uniaxial compression tests are conducted under varying fracture dip angles α. By integrating the ‘stress field–microcrack’ coupling criterion with fracture initiation displacement field characteristics, the study quantitatively derives the segmented enhancement patterns of peak strength and fracture initiation stress, systematically elucidating the mechanisms of microcrack initiation and propagation. Results indicate that both peak strength and initiation stress increase overall with rising α, exhibiting a gradual increase when α ≤ 45° and a significant rise when α \u003e 45°. Crack propagation follows a pattern in which wing-type cracks initiate first, followed by dominant secondary coplanar cracks that achieve full penetration. The initiation location shifts from the mid-section of the fracture (α \u003c 30°) to the fracture tip (α ≥ 30°) as α increases. Microcrack numbers exhibited exponential growth, though tensile cracks predominated, leading to tensile failure of the rock specimens. Stress evolution and crack propagation initially showed non-coincidence at α ≤ 30°, where stress concentration at the tip was counteracted by elevated failure thresholds due to high normal clamping forces, favouring initiation in the low-constraint zone near the fissure surface. As loading progressed, crack evolution progressively aligned with high-stress pathways. At α ≥ 45°, crack propagation closely followed the evolution path of high-stress zones. During initial cracking, the instantaneous displacement of particles around the fissure decreased with increasing α, indicating diminished crack-induced initiation. As the fissure dip angle increased, the strain required for the first acoustic emission signal grew, the strain range for emission events narrowed, and the peak ringing count increased. This study elucidates the influence of fracture dip angle on rock microcrack mechanisms, providing theoretical support for assessing the stability of fractured rock masses and ensuring the safety of underground engineering construction.","manuscriptTitle":"Study on the Crack Propagation Mechanism of Single Cracks in Red Sandstone Based on Stress Field Evolution Characteristics","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-01-20 09:10:42","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8335682/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-03-02T06:04:08+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-09T12:54:30+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-08T15:13:55+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"311557846797144447270113856589069721297","date":"2026-02-04T15:29:40+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"160747085250029049776902274421714305543","date":"2026-02-04T12:08:12+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-26T07:19:28+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-19T16:17:41+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"77450047106724144222845451205080442047","date":"2026-01-16T04:43:45+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"243701632081804082252977216049757712165","date":"2026-01-16T02:57:54+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-01-16T02:54:11+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-12-13T02:51:57+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-12-13T02:51:12+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2025-12-11T10:01:27+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"5b4f55a7-afe1-43a1-864e-2d5c89445077","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 20th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[{"id":61386296,"name":"Physical sciences/Engineering"},{"id":61386297,"name":"Physical sciences/Materials science"},{"id":61386298,"name":"Earth and environmental sciences/Solid earth sciences"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-16T09:08:41+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-01-20 09:10:42","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8335682","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8335682","identity":"rs-8335682","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}