In nature and engineering, brittle geomaterials such as crystalline rock, concrete, and cement are extensively used as construction materials and are commonly used to build bearing structures. The natural and human-induced stresses imposed on these structures are often dynamic. From the repeated load to impact load and blasting load, the modes of dynamic disturbances are diverse, and the different loading modes correspond to distinct failure patterns and damage mechanisms. Compared to constant and monotonic loads, dynamic loads are easier, leading to premature failure or pronounced degradation of mechanical properties of the brittle geomaterial. The mechanical response of brittle geomaterials exposed to different types of dynamic disturbance is thus of great significance to understanding damage evolution when dynamic loads are applied.

Differing from metals or alloys, brittle geomaterials are normally highly elastic, discontinuous, and inhomogeneous. This often results in the sudden ruptures of geomaterials without any obvious precursory failure phenomenon. To effectively predict the failures of brittle geomaterials under dynamic loads, many monitoring techniques, such as acoustic emission, ultrasonic wave velocity, infrared thermal imaging, and digital image correlation are often used to capture the precursors from insights into different physical perspectives. This monitoring is significant in rock engineering which can provide an early warning for the failure of geomaterials when exposed to dynamic and complex loads.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for global scholars to report, exchange, and discuss their ideas, conclusions, and insights regarding the mechanical response of brittle geomaterials when subjected to dynamic loads. We encourage submissions that discuss the possible dynamic damage and failure mechanisms for brittle materials from macro-, meso-, and microscales. The characteristics include, but are not limited to, energy dissipation, deformation, acoustics emission, and infrared. Original research and review articles are welcome.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Experimental tests on the mechanical behaviors of brittle geomaterials subjected to cyclic loading
• Experimental tests on the mechanical behaviors of brittle geomaterials subjected to blasting and impact loading
• Effective failure precursors for brittle geomaterials subjected to cyclic loading
• Application of non-destructive inspections to failure prediction of geomaterials under dynamic loading
• Strain rate effect on brittle geomaterials subjected to impact loading
• Impacts of loading pattern on the strength of brittle geomaterials
• Numerical modeling of the failure process for brittle geomaterials under dynamic loading
• Impacts of dynamic loading on meso- and micro-structures of brittle geomaterials
• Hydraulic-stress coupling effects on dynamic behaviors of brittle geomaterials
• Influence of repeated thermal loads on brittle geomaterial properties
• Numerical simulation of internal structure changes of brittle geomaterials under heating-cooling cycles