Rock　bolting　is　a　commonly　used　reinforcement　technique　for　jointed　rock　masses.　This　study　investigates　the　anchorage　effects　of　rock　bolts　on　cross-jointed　rock　masses.　Novel　3D-printed　stainless　steel　bolts　were　used　to　reinforce　rock-like　specimens　with　main　joint　angles　of　15°,　30°,　45°,　60°,　and　75°.　The　integration　of　Acoustic　Emission　(AE)　and　Digital　Image　Correlation　(DIC)　techniques　enabled　comprehensive　monitoring　of　crack　propagation　and　strain　evolution.　The　results　show　that　bolt　reinforcement　significantly　enhanced　specimen　strength　(up　to　79.9　%)　and　elastic　modulus　(up　to　37.9　%)　at　smaller　joint　angles　(≤45°).　However,　the　reinforcement　effectiveness　diminished　considerably　at　larger　angles　(≥60°),　with　strength　reductions　of　up　to　10.6　%.　The　combined　AE-DIC　analysis　revealed　distinct　failure　mechanisms:　tensile-dominated　failure　at　small　joint　angles　and　shear-dominated　failure　at　larger　joint　angles.　This　study　provides　practical　guidelines　for　optimizing　rock　bolt　applications　in　jointed　rock　masses,　particularly　highlighting　the　need　for　alternative　support　strategies　at　large　joint　angles.　©　2025