Reliable determination of the Hoek brown Mi parameter in brittle rocks using the maximum secant modulus criterion in multistage triaxial test

Key Points

• Reliable determination of Hoek Brown parameters was achieved through the maximum secant modulus criterion in tests.
• The maximum secant modulus criterion served as a critical metric for evaluating the strength of brittle rocks.
• This approach utilized a multistage triaxial test to assess rock behavior under different stress conditions.
• The findings may enable improved rock stability predictions and engineering applications in geotechnical engineering.