Analysis of local mechanical properties of rocks using instrumented indentation under cyclic freezing–and-thawing conditions

A.I. Shikhov, K.I. Doronin, O.R. Krasyuk, A.V. Kondrat’ev
Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation Russian Mining Industry №4S/ 2026 p. 85-91

Abstract: Rock masses in high-altitude or cold regions are subjected to the combined effects of the freeze–and-thaw cycles and mixed-mode dynamic loading, which pose a serious threat to the safety and stability of geotechnical structures. Changes in the physical and mechanical properties of rocks and accumulation of fractures increase the risks of geotechnical accidents. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze rock deformation under cyclic stresses in order to mitigate the geo-hazardous phenomena. A series of tests were carried out as part of this investigation using the instrumented indentation method under cyclic freezing–and-thawing conditions. The impact of the freeze–thaw cycles and brine concentration on the failure characteristics of granite was investigated including its hardness and elastic wave velocity. The experimental results show that the data obtained by instrumented indentation correlate with the conventional methods, such as ultrasonic testing and surface roughness control. Moreover, it is shown that micro-damages in dense granites accumulate during the first 50 cycles, which at this stage does not result in macro-damages. In turn, an increase in the pore brine concentration does not intensify the failure processes at the early stage of cyclic freezing–and-thawing.

Keywords: cyclic loads, cryolithozone, granite, nanoindentation, mineral matrix, elastic waves, propagation velocity of elastic waves, micro-damages, macro-damages

Acknowledgements: This work was carried out within the framework of a state assignment from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Study of the processes of integrated development of the Earth’s interior and deep processing of geological resources, project No. FSRW-2026-0003).

For citation: Shikhov A.I., Doronin K.I., Krasyuk O.R., Kondrat’ev A.V. Analysis of local mechanical properties of rocks using instrumented indentation under cyclic freezing–and-thawing conditions. Russian Mining Industry. 2026;(4S):85–91. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-4S-85-91

Article info

Received: 31.05.2026

Revised: 29.07.2026

Accepted: 18.08.2026

Information about the authors

Aleksander I. Shikhov – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Department of Metrology, Instrumentation and Quality Management, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8213-0989; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kirill I. Doronin – Postgraduate Student, Department of Metrology, Instrumentation and Quality Management, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3811-8843

Oksana R. Krasyuk – Student, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation

Artem V. Kondrat’ev – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Department of Metrology, Instrumentation and Quality Management, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8676-4092

References

1. Khokhlov S.V., Sokolov S.T., Vinogradov Y.I., Frenkel I.B. Conducting industrial explosions near gas pipelines. Journal of Mining Institute. 2021;247:48–56. https://doi.org/10.31897/PMI.2021.1.6

2. Petrakov D.G., Karmanskiy D.A. Comparison of analytical and experimental methods for determining dependency of permeability of clayey sandstones on effective pressure. International Journal of Engineering, Transactions B: Applications. 2025;38(11):2502–2510. https://doi.org/10.5829/ije.2025.38.11b.03

3. Bryn M.Y., Mustafin M.G., Bashirova D.R., Vasilev B.Y. Investigation of the accuracy of constructing digital elevation models of technogenic massifs based on satellite coordinate determinations. Journal of Mining Institute. 2025;271:95–107. Available at: https://pmi.spmi.ru/pmi/article/view/16310 (accessed: 19.03.2026).

4. Brushkov A.V., Alekseev A.G., Badina S.V., Drozdov D.S., Dubrovin V.A., Zhdaneev O.V. et al. Structure maintenance experience and the need to control the soils thermal regime in permafrost areas. Journal of Mining Institute. 2023;263:742–756. Available at: https://pmi.spmi.ru/pmi/article/view/16277 (accessed: 19.03.2026).

5. Tien D.L., Trung T.V., Anh S.D., Babyr N.V. Ground pressure and methods to enhance roof stability in mechanized coal mining. International Journal of Engineering, Transactions A: Basics. 2026;39(4):862–869. https://doi.org/10.5829/ije.2026.39.04a.05

6. Phuc L.Q., Linh N.K., Babyr N.V., Thang N.V. Stress environment and roof support needs for roadways ahead of the coal face: Case study from Ha Lam coal mine. Geology and Geophysics of Russian South. 2025;15(4):270–284. https://doi.org/10.46698/o0885-5581-1938-j

7. Gustov V., Pshenin V., Zakirova G. Substantiation of solutions for enhancing the environmental safety level of a marine oil terminal under conditions of high intensification of technological processes. Frontiers in Marine Science. 2026;13:1849663. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1849663

8. Khanh D.V., Anh H.P., Hanh N.T.H., Grigoriev E.V. An integrated GIS-Markov chain-logistic regression approach to modeling land-use dynamics in six communes of an Giang province. International Journal of Engineering, Transactions B: Applications. 2027;40(2):414–425. https://doi.org/10.5829/ije.2027.40.02b.07

9. Zhang Q., Liu Y., Dai F. A frost heave pressure model for fractured rocks subjected to repeated freeze-thaw deterioration. Engineering Geology. 2024;337:107587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2024.107587

10. Babyr N.V., Kuziev D.A., Sazankova E.S., Dobler M.O. Influence of cyclic impacts of powered roof support on weakening of immediate roof rocks. Eurasian Mining. 2026;(1):14–19. Available at: https://www.rudmet.ru/journal/2523/article/41017/ (accessed: 27.03.2026).

11. Freire-Lista D.M., Fort R., Varas-Muriel M.J. Freeze–thaw fracturing in building granites. Cold Regions Science and Technology. 2015;113:40–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2015.01.008

12. Fujii Y., Takemura T., Takahashi M., Lin W. Surface features of uniaxial tensile fractures and their relation to rock anisotropy in Inada granite. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 2007;44(1):98–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2006.05.001

13. Weng L., Wu Z., Taheri A., Liu Q., Lu H. Deterioration of dynamic mechanical properties of granite due to freeze-thaw weathering: Considering the effects of moisture conditions. Cold Regions Science and Technology. 2020;176:103092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2020.103092

14. Zhang W., Chai C., Chen H., Zhang S., Du H., Wang J. et al. Freeze-thaw damage differences in saturated limestone: Macro-meso-micro response and mechanism driven by initial properties. Cold Regions Science and Technology. 2026;245:104849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2026.104849

15. Zhao Y., Liu B., Wang C., Bi J., Yang Z. Study on deterioration mechanism of granite with a natural single weak surface after freeze-thaw treatment. Cold Regions Science and Technology. 2024;218:104079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2023.104079

16. Tan X., Chen W., Yang J., Cao J. Laboratory investigations on the mechanical properties degradation of granite under freeze–thaw cycles. Cold Regions Science and Technology. 2011;68(3):130–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2011.05.007

17. Feng Q., Hou S., Liu W., Zhang S., Li W., Tian M. Study on the simulation method and mesoscopic characteristics of rock freeze-thaw damage. Computers and Geotechnics. 2023;153:105038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2022.105038

18. Maji V., Murton J.B. Micro-computed tomography imaging and probabilistic modelling of rock fracture by freeze–thaw. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 2020;45(3):666–680. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4764

19. Li J., Kaunda R.B., Zhou K. Experimental investigations on the effects of ambient freeze-thaw cycling on dynamic properties and rock pore structure deterioration of sandstone. Cold Regions Science and Technology. 2018;154:133–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2018.06.015

20. Gong Y., Song J., Wu S., Zhang Y. Evolution of pore structure and analysis of freeze damage in granite during cyclic freeze-thaw using NMR technique. Engineering Geology. 2024;335:107545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2024.107545

21. Zhang J., Wang G., Liu H., Yang M. Study on the evolution of microscopic pore structure of sandstone under freeze-thaw cycles. Cold Regions Science and Technology. 2024;217:104018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2023.104018

22. Lecomte J.-S., Schuman C. Nanoindentation analysis of Bohus granite: Macroscopic properties and phase-specific mechanical behavior. Construction and Building Materials. 2026;511:145169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145169

23. Doronin K.I., Gogolinskiy K.V., Umanskii A.S. Influence of strain hardening on the results of calculating the material mechanical properties via the instrumented indentation test. International Review on Modelling and Simulations. 2025;18(5):340–349. https://doi.org/10.15866/iremos.v18i5.26428

24. Liu X.-Y., Xu D.-P., Li S.-J., Qiu S.-L., Jiang Q. An insight into the mechanical and fracture characterization of minerals and mineral interfaces in granite using nanoindentation and micro X-Ray computed tomography. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2023;56(5):3359–3375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03221-6

25. Ma Z., Zhang C., Gamage R.P., Zhang G. Uncovering the creep deformation mechanism of rock-forming minerals using nanoindentation. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology. 2022;32(2):283–294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2021.11.010

26. Xie Q., Tian X., Zeng Y., Liu X., Wang L. Study on the influence of indentation depths on the fracture characterization and acoustic emission characteristics of minerals in granite using nanoindentation. Construction and Building Materials. 2024;450:138516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.138516

27. Mustafaev A.S., Grabovskiy A.Y., Sukhomlinov V.S., Shtoda E.V. A universal triode-based plasma device with controllable electrokinetic characteristics. Journal of Applied Physics. 2026;139(15):153302. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0323633

28. Lei M., Dang F.-N., Xue H., Xing J., Ding W. Study on the effect of nanoindentation test method on micromechanical properties of granite minerals. Geofluids. 2022;2022:5834979. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5834979

29. Magnenet V., Auvray C., Francius G., Giraud A. Determination of the matrix indentation modulus of Meuse / Haute-Marne argillite. Applied Clay Science. 2011;52(3):266–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2011.03.001

30. Syasko V., Musikhin A., Gnivush I., Stepanova M., Vinogradova A. Rolled waterproofing coating delamination detection by high-voltage testing. Coatings. 2026;16(6):648. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16060648

31. Cui Z., Dai F., Liu Y., Zhang B., Wei M., Zhang Q. Dynamic fracture properties and criterion of cyclic freeze-thaw treated granite subjected to mixed-mode loading. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 2024;16(12):4971–4989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2023.12.019

32. Berto F., Lazzarin P. A review of the volume-based strain energy density approach applied to V-notches and welded structures. Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics. 2009;52(3):183–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tafmec.2009.10.001

33. Oliver W.C., Pharr G.M. Measurement of hardness and elastic modulus by instrumented indentation: Advances in understanding and refinements to methodology. Journal of Materials Research. 2004;19(1):3–20. https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2004.19.1.3

34. Useinov A., Reshetov V., Maslenikov I., Rusakov A., Gladkih E., Bespalov V., Loginov B. Study of properties of thin films in dynamic mechanical analysis mode using NanoScan-4D scanning nano-hardness tester. Nanoindustry. 2016;(1):80–87. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22184/1993-8578.2016.63.1.80.87

35. Kravchuk K.S., Kostsova A.A., Kondratskiy D.Y. Reducing the influence of the surface roughness on the hardness measurements using instrumented indentation text. Materials Today: Proceedings. 2018;5(12):26128–26132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2018.08.042

36. Gu Q., Huang Z., Zhao K., Zhong W., Liu L., Li X. et al. Effects of high temperature and thermal cycles on fracture surface’s roughness of granite: An insight on 3D morphology. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 2025;17(2):810–826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2024.04.025