The physical and mechanical parameters and degradation mechanisms of red sandstone in the Mount Wuyi scenic area were studied under the action of dry–wet cycles. Dry–wet cycle, acoustic wave velocity, water saturation rate, and triaxial compression tests were conducted, aided by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction testing techniques. The study’s results show that the dry–wet cycle effect on red sandstone is a major factor in the degradation of its physical and mechanical parameters and that its microstructural characteristics are significantly affected. The P-wave velocity, peak strength, elastic modulus, internal friction angle, and cohesion decreased, the water content and peak strain increased, and the elastic modulus was the most sensitive to dry–wet cycles. A dry–wet cycle’s action severely damages the microstructural integrity of the red sandstone. After 15 dry–wet cycles, the interstitial fillings between the skeletal grains are dissolved over a large area, microfractures are interwoven throughout, and the structure is severely fragmented. The microstructural degradation of the red sandstone by dry–wet cycles mainly manifests in the dissolution of the interstitial filler, and the relative content of calcite as an interstitial filler is reduced by 46.6% after 15 dry–wet cycles. The proposed strength decay prediction equation has reference significance for the strength prediction of the red sand conglomerate in the project. This study’s results can provide theoretical support for the landscape protection of rock masses and the prevention of engineering geological hazards.
This article conducted acoustic emission tests of natural coal, natural frozen coal, and saturated frozen coal to explore the damage characteristics of frozen coal and in view of the frozen coal damage early warning problems and explored the strength deformation and acoustic emission characteristics of coal samples. The test results showed that the compressive strength of the frozen coal samples decreased significantly, and the strength of the saturated frozen coal samples was the lowest; more acoustic emissions were generated at the initial loading stage. The damage parameters were defined using the acoustic emission parameters. The damage characteristics of the coal samples were analyzed. The damage model of the coal samples was established based on the power function. The early warning parameter VAEi to analyze the evolution characteristics of the variance curve was proposed; the sudden jump point b of VAEi from the stable development stage to the rapid growth stage was defined as a general early warning point; the endpoint point c of the parameter rapid growth stage was defined as a key early warning point; a zonal and hierarchical early warning was finally proposed.
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