Reverse size effect on unconfined compressive strength of red-bed rocks using micro-CT technique

Reverse size effect on unconfined compressive strength of red-bed rocks using micro-CT technique

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Qinyuan Liang^a, Hengxing Lan^a^,^b^,^*, Yu Zhou^c^,^d^,^**, Bo Li^e, Shijie Liu^a, Han Bao^f

Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering | 2026, 18(5) : 3425 - 3446

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Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering | 2026, 18(5): 3425-3446

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Reverse size effect on unconfined compressive strength of red-bed rocks using micro-CT technique

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Qinyuan Liang^a, Hengxing Lan^a^,^b^,^*, Yu Zhou^c^,^d^,^**, Bo Li^e, Shijie Liu^a, Han Bao^f

Affiliations

^aCollege of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710054, China

^bState Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

^cKey Laboratory of Rock Mechanics and Geohazards of Zhejiang Province, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, China

^dSchool of Geoscience and Technology, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, 610500, China

^eCollege of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

^fSchool of Highway, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710064, China

Dr. Hengxing Lan is a professor at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China. He is the President of the Landslide Nomenclature Commission (C37), International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG). He serves on the editorial board of high-profile journals in geology and geotechnical engineering. His research is primarily focused on the characterization and modeling of rock and soil strength and failure, with a particular emphasis on the microscopic anisotropic control theory of rock mass deformation and failure. He has published over 200 academic papers and 15 scientific consulting reports that have been adopted by the Chinese government. The geological hazard dynamics model he proposed has been successfully applied in academic and engineering communities of nearly 40 countries worldwide, and has been cited in research reports by the US Academy of Sciences.

Published: 2026-05-25 doi: 10.1016/j.jrmge.2025.06.014

Outline

Abstract

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This study integrates unconfined compression tests with high-resolution computed tomography (CT) to analyze the pore heterogeneity, crack propagation, and failure modes of red sandstone specimens with diameters ranging from 10 mm to 100 mm. Key findings include: (1) With increasing specimen size, crack initiation stress (CI), damage stress (CD), and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) initially increase and then decrease, (2) In smaller specimens, stress concentration due to pore heterogeneity leads to splitting failure and lower strength, (3) In medium-sized specimens, friction dominates crack propagation, causing shear failure, while increased fragment rotation enhances energy dissipation, yielding highest strength, and (4) In larger specimens, cracks tend to propagate along bedding planes, reducing energy dissipation and then weakening strength. These results provide insights into the reverse size effect on sandstone strength and have implications for engineering applications.

Key words

Red sandstone / Reverse size effect / Unconfined compression test / Pore heterogeneity / Crack propagation / Computed tomography (CT)

Cite this Article

Qinyuan Liang, Hengxing Lan, Yu Zhou, Bo Li, Shijie Liu, Han Bao. Reverse size effect on unconfined compressive strength of red-bed rocks using micro-CT technique[J]. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2026 , 18 (5) : 3425 -3446 . DOI: 10.1016/j.jrmge.2025.06.014

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Funding

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National Natural Science Foundation of China(42041006)
Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, CHD(300102265718; 300102264902)

Appendix

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Year 2026 volume 18 Issue 5

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Article Info

doi: 10.1016/j.jrmge.2025.06.014

Receive Date：2025-01-14
Online Date：2026-06-17
Published：2026-05-25

Article Data

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History

Received：2025-01-14
Revised：2025-05-07
Accepted：2025-06-29

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(42041006)

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, CHD(300102265718; 300102264902)

Affiliations

^aCollege of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710054, China

^bState Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

^cKey Laboratory of Rock Mechanics and Geohazards of Zhejiang Province, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, China

^dSchool of Geoscience and Technology, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, 610500, China

^eCollege of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

^fSchool of Highway, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710064, China

Corresponding:

^* Corresponding author. College of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710054, China. E-mail addresses: lanhx@igsnrr.ac.cn (H. Lan)

^** Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Rock Mechanics and Geohazards of Zhejiang Province, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, China. E-mail addresses: zhouyu@usx.edu.cn (Y. Zhou).

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表12种不同金属材料的力学参数

科 Family	属数 Number of genus	种数 Number of species	占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%)	属 Genus	种数 Number of species	占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%)
鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae	2	11	5.26	鹅膏菌属 Amanita	10	4.78
小菇科 Mycenaceae	2	12	5.74	丝盖伞属 Inocybe	5	2.39
多孔菌科 Polyporaceae	8	14	6.70	蜡蘑属 Laccaria	5	2.39
红菇科 Russulaceae	3	23	11.00	小皮伞属 Marasmius	6	2.87
				小菇属 Mycena	11	5.26
				光柄菇属 Pluteus	5	2.39
				红菇属 Russula	17	8.13
				栓菌属 Trametes	5	2.39

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