Mechanical Response and Failure Mechanism of Rock Under Dynamic Disturbance and Water

The field of geotechnical engineering has long recognized the critical role of water-rock interactions in influencing the mechanical behavior of rock masses, particularly in the context of mining and civil engineering applications. Recent studies have focused on the dynamic behavior of rocks in deep geological environments, which is crucial for the safe and sustainable extraction of coal, non-ferrous metals, and other minerals, as well as for the construction of engineering projects such as tunnels. Studies have employed various experimental setups, including the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB), true-triaxial low-frequency disturbance devices, and conventional static compression testing equipment, to delve into the mechanical properties and disaster mechanisms of rocks under diverse dynamic and static loads. These experiments have revealed significant insights into the strength changes, vibration characteristics, and deformation behaviors of rocks subjected to dynamic disturbances. However, despite these achievements, there is a need for further investigation into the deformation and destabilization mechanisms of water-rich rock masses under dynamic disturbances, particularly the impact of the coupled effects of water content and strain rate on rock strength, energy evolution, and rockburst propensity. The complex interplay between water content and dynamic loads continues to pose challenges in predicting rock strength, assessing the stability of surrounding rock, and preventing engineering hazards such as rock bursts and collapse.

This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of the dynamic responses of water-saturated rocks under various loading conditions, and to elucidate the mechanisms driving their deformation, failure, and acoustic emission behaviors. By exploring the water-rock coupling effects in dynamic environments, the goal is to develop more accurate predictive models and effective mitigation strategies for geotechnical engineering disasters. The research will also investigate the impact of water content on the mechanical properties of rocks, the evolution of microcracks, and the degradation mechanisms under wetting-drying cycles, with a focus on improving the safety and efficiency of underground engineering projects.
To gather further insights in the complex interactions between water and rock materials under dynamic loading conditions, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Coupled effects of water and strain rate on the mechanical behavior of rocks
- Mechanism of rockburst under varying water or dynamic conditions
- Strengthening or retarding effect of groundwater on rock dynamic failure in different structural environments
- Energy evolution and strength characteristics of water-bearing rocks in dynamic environment
- Mathematical model of mechanics response of rock under water and dynamic disturbance conditions
- Rock failure criteria considering water or dynamic disturbance conditions
- Numerical modeling and simulation of rock failure under various water or dynamic disturbance conditions
- Multi-scale effects of water-rock reactions
- Acoustic emission characteristics and their correlation with rock deformation and failure
- Water driven or dynamic driven mechanisms for microcrack evolution
- Effects of wetting-drying cycles or dynamic load cycles on the mechanical behavior of rocks

Keywords: water-saturated rocks, failure mechanisms, dynamic response of rocks

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.