Experimental and numerical investigations on fracture behaviours of cracked chevron notched Brazilian disc (CCNBD) sandstone specimen under cyclic loading

•Three upper limit loads were set to study their effect on fracture behaviors.•A weakening effect of the cyclic loading on mode I fracture toughness was found.•The development of FPZ has the initial stage, stable stage and acceleration stage.•Failure resulting from the larger tangential deformation caused by cyclic loading.