Energy Analysis Method for Uniaxial Compression Test of Sandstone under Static and Quasi‐Dynamic Loading Rates

To investigate the energy evolution characteristics of sandstone under static‐quasi‐dynamic loading rates (1.0 × 10−3, 5.0 × 10−3, 1.0 × 10−2, 5.0 × 10−2, and 1.0 × 10−1 mm/s), the uniaxial compression tests, the uniaxial cyclic loading‐unloading tests, and the uniaxial incrementally cyclic loading‐unloading tests were conducted under five different loading rates. Through analysis of the elastic energy of the uniaxial cyclic loading‐unloading test and the uniaxial incremental cyclic loading‐unloading test, show that the impact of the loading rate and the cycle numbers on the elastic energy is less. Hence, we can deem that when the loads of the uniaxial incremental cyclic loading‐unloading test and the uniaxial compression test are equal, the elastic energy of the two also equals. The energy in the uniaxial compression tests analyzed by the uniaxial incrementally cyclic loading‐unloading test show that elastic energy increased linearly when the input energy increased under different loading rates. Through the linear energy storage law and the uniaxial incremental cyclic loading and unloading test, it is possible to analyze the energy in the uniaxial compression test at any loading rates. The results show that the greater the loading rate, the greater the peak elastic energy and peak input energy. But when the load is equal, the greater the loading rate, the smaller the input energy and elastic energy. Compared with traditional methods, the new energy analysis method is accurate and simple. Meanwhile, based on energy dissipation, the damage of rock during uniaxial compression tests was studied.