The evolution of the long-term mechanical, hydraulic, and transport characteristics of rock fractures must be predicted in advance by considering the issue of the underground deposits of the energy by products of high-level radioactive waste. This research presents slide-hold-slide direct shear experiments conducted for halite (rock salt) specimens with single fractures so as to investigate the effects of load holding on the mechanical properties of rock joints. From the experimental results, it is confirmed that the shear stress reduction can be observed during load holding. It is also confirmed that the shear strength recovery can be observed after load holding and it is found to increase with the increment of load holding period. In this research, the shear strength recoveries are plotted with the holding period. It is confirmed that the shear stress recovery depends on the log t healing law. This is because the dominant factor in the shear strength recovery during holding may be attributed to a purely mechanical process, like creep deformation at the contacting asperities.
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