Abstract: In order to study the long-term stability of engineering rock mass under cyclic loading, various uniaxial tests are conducted on yellow sandstone under different maximum stresses and stress amplitudes using the rock mechanics test system Rockman207. The laboratory investigation results show that the fatigue failure of yellow sandstone is controlled by the axial strain, lateral strain and volumetric strain of the complete stress-strain curve. There is an initial failure in the process of fatigue tests, and the initial failure occurs at peak strength or behind peak strength of the control curve. The difference of strain rate is the essential factor of 3 stages of the axial and lateral irreversible deformation development laws, and the fatigue failure process of yellow sandstone is the accumulating process of axial and lateral irreversible deformations. The fatigue life of yellow sandstone can be predicted by using the cycles-maximum stress curve (N-S curve) under certain conditions.