Experimental investigation of the mechanical properties of rock salt under triaxial cyclic loading

• A series of laboratory tests were performed to explore mechanical properties of rock salt subjected to triaxial cyclic loading.
• A new theoretical approach to calculate the Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio was proposed.
• The Young’s modulus decreases with loading cycles nonlinearly and drives to a constant after 50–100 loading cycles.
• The two-stage evolution law in both the axial and lateral deformation of salt increases with an increase in the maximum applied stress or with a decrease in the minimum applied stress.