Characteristics of Energy Dissipation in T-Shaped Fractured Rocks under Different Loading Rates

T-shaped fractured rocks in the engineering rock mass with different inclination angles, quantities, and cross patterns will cause slope landslides, cavern collapse, roof fall, and other disasters under the action of external forces. Deformation evolution of the T-shaped fractured rock is also significant for monitoring the stability of rock engineering structures. In this paper, the compression test of T-shaped fracture specimens was carried out under different loading rates. By modulating both the fracture inclination angle and the loading rate, the attributes pertaining to energy dissipation in the T-shaped fractured specimen were scrupulously scrutinized and subsequently expounded upon. The difference in the energy characteristics between fractured rock and intact rock was investigated to understand the deformation evolution of T-shaped fractured rock samples. The results show that when the fracture angle is 45° and 90°, the elastic strain energy and dissipated energy decrease as the secondary fracture angle increases. At the peak point, as the secondary fracture angle increases from 0°, the total absorbed energy, elastic strain energy, and dissipated energy of the T-shaped fractured rock increase, the ratio U e / U of elastic strain energy to total energy increases, and the ratio U d / U of dissipated energy to total energy decreases. The increase in loading rate leads to an increase in U e / U and a decrease in U d / U at the peak point of the T-shaped fractured rock specimen. The increase in loading rate leads to an increase in the total absorbed energy and elastic energy at the peak point of the T-shaped fractured rock, while the dissipated energy decreases. Investigative endeavors into the mechanics and energetic attributes of T-shaped fractured rocks bestow pragmatic and directive significance upon the safety assessment and stability prognostication of sundry geological undertakings.