Red　clay　is　highly　susceptible　to　cracking　due　to　its　nature,　and　the　reduction　in　strength　caused　by　cracking　can　lead　to　engineering　disasters.　To　investigate　the　cracking　sensitivity　of　red　clay,　a　homogeneous　fracture　model　of　red　clay　based　on　the　cohesive　zone　model　was　established　using　ABAQUS　in　this　work,　the　reliability　of　the　model　was　verified　through　a　three-point　bending　test,　and　then　the　crack　propagation　process　and　sensitivity　to　test　factors　of　red　clay　were　further　analyzed.　The　results　show　that　the　fracture　simulation　of　the　cohesive　zone　model　is　in　good　agreement　with　the　test　results,　confirming　by　the　high　reliability.　The　depth　of　prefabricated　cracks　and　fulcrum　spacing　had　the　significant　effects　on　the　crack　path,　and　the　decrease　of　prefabricated　crack　depth　and　fulcrum　spacing　led　to　the　increase　of　critical　load.　Meanwhile,　the　loading　rate　had　little　effect　on　the　load–displacement　curves.　©　2024　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd.