Experimental investigation of the mechanical properties of rock salt under triaxial cyclic loading

• A series of laboratory tests were performed to explore mechanical properties of rock salt subjected to triaxial cyclic loading. • A new theoretical approach to calculate the Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio was proposed. • The Young’s modulus decreases with loading cycles nonlinearly and drives to a constant after 50–100 loading cycles. • The two-stage evolution law in both the axial and lateral deformation of salt increases with an...