<p>Intermittent fractures are crucial components in rock slopes, and play a key role in influencing rock mass strength and slope stability. This study investigates the progressive failure process of rock masses containing coplanar intermittent fractures through integrated experimental and numerical approaches. The strain field information and cracking behaviors were observed throughout the entire loading process based on Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technology. The mechanical properties of the fractured rock mass, the evolution of shear and tensile strain fields, the gradient characteristics of the displacement field, and the crack propagation process were thoroughly analyzed. Corresponding numerical models with intermittent fractures, established by the Discrete Element Method (DEM) and calibrated against experiments, were employed to investigate the mechanical properties and load transfer behaviors of rock bridges in multi-fractured rock masses at different loading stages. Results demonstrate that macroscopic cracks predominantly initiate and penetrate the rock bridges or deflect along their ends. Cracks penetrating the rock bridge are mainly subjected to shear action, while those deflecting and extending along the rock bridge ends are primarily influenced by tensile action. The failure of rock bridges in multi-fractured rock masses is characterized by progressive failure from bottom to top, with the rock bridge near the bottom bearing a greater load and sustaining the most severe damage first. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the failure processes and mechanisms in such slopes.</p>