Influence of crack density on energy dissipation and damage evolution in rock–concrete composites under cyclic loading paths

Key Points

• Energy dissipation increases with crack density, enhancing the material's ability to absorb energy during cyclic loading.
• Key evidence shows a direct correlation, with energy dissipation metrics increasing by 35% as crack density rises.
• The analysis examines the damage evolution process using cyclic loading paths, revealing insights into material behavior under stress.
• Understanding these dynamics may enable better design strategies for rock-concrete composites in engineering applications.