Frictional behavior of sandstone fractures under forward-backward pre-peak cyclic loading

Abstract The objective of this study is to determine the effect of cyclic loading under pre-peak condition on shearing behavior of fractures in Phra Wihan sandstone, primarily to improve an understanding of the stability conditions of slope embankments along roadways and railways in the north of Thailand where seismic activities have often occurred. The fractures were artificially made in the laboratory by tension inducing method and cyclically sheared under forward to fully backward loading paths with constant normal stresses between 1 and 4 MPa. Two cyclic loading conditions were used on separate sets of specimens: constant stress amplitude and constant displacement amplitude. Fifty shear cycles were applied. The results indicated that the pre-peak cyclic loading under both loading conditions slightly reduce shear strengths and stiffness of the sandstone fractures due to the degradation of the second order fracture asperities. Fracture roughness notably reduced particularly under large shear stress and displacement amplitudes due to the deposition and packing of rock power. The subsequent monotonic loading performed after cyclic loading showed further reduction of fracture roughness due to the degradations of the first order asperities.