The　unloading　mode　of　shear　and　normal　stresses　and　the　number　of　shear　cycles　have　important　influences　on　the　unloading-induced　slip　of　rock　fractures.　Clarifying　the　slip　mechanism　of　rock　fractures　disturbed　by　deep　excavation　is　critically　important　for　the　exploitation　of　underground　energy　and　the　mitigation　of　seismicity.　In　this　research,　the　simultaneous　unloading　tests　of　normal　stress　and　shear　stress　on　the　rough-walled　sandstone　fractures　are　carried　out　cyclically.　Experimental　results　indicate　that　the　ratio　of　unloading　rate　of　shear　stress　to　that　of　normal　stress　(i.e.,　vs/vn)　mainly　controls　the　slip　modes　of　the　fracture.　When　vs/vn　is　less　than　0.66,　the　sandstone　fracture　will　be　activated　to　slip,　which　involves　a　quasi-static　slip　stage　and　a　dynamic　slip　stage.　And,　a　lower　value　of　vs/vn　tend　to　produce　a　larger　duration　of　the　quasi-static　slip　stage　and　a　lower　peak　slip　velocity　at　the　initiation　point,　vice　versa.　The　quasi-static　slip　stage　is　essentially　dominated　by　the　asperity　damage　process　and　the　cycle　number　mainly　affects　the　initial　stress　state　of　the　fracture.　Our　observations　suggest　that　adjusting　the　unloading　rate　ratio　during　the　excavation　process　may　reduce　the　possibility　of　fracture　slip-induced　dynamic　hazards.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd