A review of the engineering properties of heated rocks in Australia

This article systematically reviews the research conducted on the thermal behaviour of Australian rocks. The review is grouped into four key components: (1) methods for literature and geographic context, (2) types of rocks and high-temperature studied, (3) discussion of thermal behaviour of rock strength, and (4) key findings and future research direction. The literature selection was based on keywords such as title and abstract and keywords from three databases: Web of Science, Google Scholar and Scopus. Thirty-one eligible articles published from 2012 to 2024 were critically reviewed and analysed to answer research questions related to the strength of Australian heated rocks. The review indicated that high temperatures significantly influenced Australian rocks’ mechanical and engineering properties. The outcome of this study will assist researchers, engineers, and decision-makers in planning and designing geothermal energy reservoirs and mining and nuclear waste disposal sites, thus minimising the project cost.