Dual role of holes in red sandstone under freeze–thaw and confinement: mechanistic insights and a Hoek–Brown-based predictive model

Key Points

• Holes in red sandstone significantly affect its structural integrity during freeze-thaw cycles.
• The Hoek-Brown model predicts changes in stability with increased confinement and altered void structures.
• Mechanistic insights highlight interaction complexities between thermal changes and mechanical stresses.
• Understanding these interactions may enable better predictive approaches in geomechanics for construction.