Mechanism and Evolution of Energy-Driven Rock Fatigue Damage: A Review and Prospects

Rock fatigue damage and instability during failure processes involve continuous initiation, propagation, and coalescence of internal cracks accompanied by energy exchange with surroundings. Energy-based analysis provides fundamental insights into damage accumulation and transformation mechanisms. This paper systematically review the research progress on energy evolution patterns under various influencing factors, microstructural transformation mechanisms during damage development, and associated macroscopic mechanical behaviors. It synthesizes achievements in energy-based strength criteria, fatigue damage evolution models, constitutive relationships, and engineering stability assessments. Current limitations are identified, and future directions are proposed: 1) Investigating energy evolution mechanisms under multi-field coupling conditions; 2) Developing comprehensive energy-driven damage evolution laws and constitutive models; 3) Establishing energy-based fatigue life prediction frameworks for rock engineering applications. These advancements aim to enhance theoretical understanding and practical reliability in rock mechanics analysis.