Experimental study of coalescence mechanisms and failure under uniaxial compression of granite containing multiple holes

The instability problem in the presence of multiple openings is complicated, depending not only on the in situ stress field and the rockmass geological condition, but also on the size, distribution and the distances between the multiple openings. The aim of the experimental study presented in this paper is to examine crack initiation and coalescence mechanisms and failure behaviour in a granite material containing multiple holes under uniaxial...