The connectivity ratio significantly influences the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of rock samples with structural planes of varying inclinations. Consequently

jointed rock samples with connectivity values of 0

0.25

0.50

and 1.00

and dip angles of 15°

30°

45°

and 60° were manually prepared. Uniaxial and triaxial compression tests at confining pressures of 200

400

and 600 kPa were conducted to investigate the effects of connectivity and dip angles on the mechanical properties of the rock mass. The results show that: 1) Connectivity significantly reduces the strength of the rock mass; peak strength decreases as connectivity increases. Stress-strain curves exhibit initial strain hardening followed by strain softening when ≤0.50; for >0.50

the behavior transitions from strain softening at low angles to strain hardening at high angles. 2) Samples with structural planes initially shrink and then expand; overall expansion decreases with increasing connectivity at each dip angle; abrupt changes occur during shrinkage when =1.00 at dip angles of 30°

45°

and 60°. 3) Before energy inflection point

dissipative energy  increases with connectivity while elastic strain energy slightly decreases; after point

and both increase sharply

and different connectivity levels exhibit similar energy release rates. 4) The prediction criteria for rock samples with varying connectivity rates are classified. When < 0.5

it is suitable for judging the failure angle

where is the friction angle of the structural plane; when ≥0.5

the Jaeger criterion accurately reflects the failure angle of the rock mass.