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Considering that a jointed rock mass in a cold area is often affected by periodic freeze-thaw cycles and shear failure, definitions for the mesoscopic and macroscopic damage to a jointed rock mass under the coupling of freeze-thaw and shear are proposed, and the damage mechanism is verified according to experimental results. The results show that: (1) the jointed rock specimens increase macro-joints and meso-defects, the mechanical properties deteriorate significantly under freeze-thaw cycles, and the damage degree becomes more and more significant with the increases in freeze-thaw cycles and joint persistency. (2) When the number of freeze-thaw cycles is constant, the total damage variable value gradually increases with the increase in joint persistency. The damage variable difference in specimens with different persistency is distinct, which is gradually reduced in the later cycles, indicating a weakening influence of persistency on the total damage variable. (3) The shear resistance of non-persistent jointed rock mass in a cold area is determined by the coupling effect of meso-damage and frost heaving macro-damage. The coupling damage variable can accurately describe the damage variation law of jointed rock mass under freeze-thaw cycles and shear load.
Lei et al. (2023) studied this question.