From passive chaos to active order: conceptualizing thermal cracking regulation and control in rocks

Thermal cracking in rocks is a critical process in thermal-assisted rock-breaking technologies, yet its management often lacks a guiding engineering philosophy. While thermal stresses have been utilized in various applications, the resulting fractures are typically treated as a passive outcome to be characterized or mitigated post-failure. This paper proposes a fundamental conceptual shift by introducing a formal framework for the active regulation and control (R&C) of thermal cracking. The R&C framework distinguishes between two complementary strategies: regulation, which deliberately steers cracking paths to achieve a desired geometric trajectory, and control, which limits cracking extent to ensure safety and integrity. We establish the physical basis for this framework using classical thermo-mechanical principles and validate its feasibility through targeted numerical simulations. By formally defining this distinction, this study sets the stage for a new approach to intelligent fracture management, with the potential to enhance precision, safety, and effectiveness in high-temperature rock mechanics applications.