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.