# Simulation of Rock Failure Cone Development Using a Modified Load-Transferring Anchor Design
###### Abstract  
This study investigates a novel anchor-based method for controlled rock fragmentation, designed as an alternative to conventional excavation or explosive techniques. The proposed solution utilizes a specially modified undercut anchor that induces localized failure within the rock mass through radial expansion rather than traditional pull-out forces. Finite Element Method simulations, performed in ABAQUS with an extended fracture mechanics approach, were used to model the initiation and propagation of failure zones in sandstone. The results revealed a two-phase cracking process starting beneath the anchor's driving element and progressing toward the rock's free surface, forming a breakout cone. This behavior significantly deviates from conventional prediction models, such as the 45\({}^{\circ}\) cone or Concrete Capacity Design methods (cone 35\({}^{\circ}\)). The simulations were supported by field tests, confirming both the feasibility and practical advantages of the proposed anchor system, especially in confined or safety-critical environments. The findings offer valuable insights for the development of compact and efficient rock fragmentation technologies suitable for mining, rescue operations, and civil engineering applications. F 2025 20  
soil strata [18; 19]. In bridge construction, they are commonly utilized for anchoring abutments and piers, particularly in areas susceptible to differential settlement or subsoil instability. Anchors also find extensive application in geotechnical engineering [20], where they are used to reinforce subsoil and stabilize landslide-prone zones. In such contexts, they serve as anchorage elements for geosynthetic reinforcements, including geogrids and soil nails, thereby enhancing the overall stability of slopes and embankments [21; 22; 23; 24]. Depending on the geotechnical conditions and the anticipated loading, different types of anchors are employed--namely passive, active, or self-drilling anchors--each characterized by distinct installation techniques and load transfer mechanisms [25; 26; 27]. In industrial and energy-related construction, anchors are also utilized as foundational elements for wind turbines, telecommunications towers, and high-voltage transmission poles, where they ensure structural stability under dynamic wind and operational loads. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the application of anchorage systems in the retrofitting and structural reinforcement of historical buildings and existing foundations, where anchors contribute to the preservation and stability of aging or damaged structures [28; 29; 30; 31; 32]. Furthermore, increasingly specialized applications have emerged, including the integration of anchors in rock excavation technologies under complex geological conditions. In such scenarios, anchors function as integral components of systems that facilitate the controlled fracturing or detachment of rock masses, particularly in mechanical undercutting or splitting methods used in mining and tunnel construction [33; 34; 35; 36]. Recent advances in the design and performance evaluation of energy-absorbing anchor systems have provided further insight into their behavior under complex geological and mechanical conditions. In particular, studies have addressed the influence of corrosion on prestress loss [37], the development of deformable energy-absorbing bolts for deep tunnels [38], and the shear behavior of reinforced rock joints under cyclic loading [13], offering valuable references for the analysis and improvement of rock detachment technologies. Typical applications of anchorage systems include the fixation of infrastructure components within concrete structures. Among the various anchorage solutions, undercut anchors represent a specialized design that provides enhanced load-bearing performance and mechanical interlock with the base material.