• The energy self-inhibition model effectively characterizes energy accumulation and dissipation in freeze-thaw damaged sandstone under uniaxial compression, enhancing predictive capabilities for rock stability in cold regions.
• Peak total input energy and energy storage limit follow an exponential freeze-thaw decay model, with decay constants ranging from 0.0021 to 0.1370 and 0.0018 to 0.1945, respectively, quantifying progressive deterioration.
• A linear energy storage equation is proposed and validated, with storage coefficients between 0.823 and 0.992, showing a negative exponential relationship with initial uniaxial compressive strength, enabling strength-based energy predictions.
• The study reveals from a thermodynamic perspective that freeze-thaw cycles weaken rock mechanical properties through distinct energy dissipation and accumulation stages, offering a robust framework for assessing frost damage in engineering geology.