ABSTRACT In order to deeply understand the evolution mechanism of crack propagation for granite specimens with different weathering degrees, the crack evolution law during the fracture process of weathered rock is quantitatively evaluated using the analysis of rock mechanical properties and the acoustic emission characteristic parameter RA‐AF. The results indicate that the increase in weathering degree has an obvious weaken effect on the uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus of rock. The weathered rock failure under uniaxial compression is dominated by tensile cracks, and meanwhile, the smaller weathering degree of rock, the larger proportion of shear cracks. The average proportions of shear cracks in the strong weathered group, moderate weathered group, and weak weathered group are 10.52%, 35.66%, and 40.52%, respectively. Through the distribution of PFC 2D cracks, it is found that the amount of intergranular cracks is significantly higher than that of intragranular cracks. Both the quantitative crack evolution characteristics using the acoustic emission characteristic parameter RA‐AF and the PFC 2D numerical simulation results are consistent with the macroscopic fracture modes of weathered granite rocks. These findings hold significant implications for the stability analysis of rock mechanics engineering impacted by weathering effects.
Yuan et al. (2025) studied this question.