Abstract: The mechanical properties of layered shales are usually anisotropic due to the influence of internal bedding azimuths. In order to explore the influence of bedding direction mode Ⅰ fracture characteristics, three point bending static compression tests and numerical simulation tests were carried out on half-disc specimens with precrack angles of 0° and different bedding dip angle β. The test results show that the mode Ⅰ standardized stress intensity factor of the specimen Y_Ⅰ varies significantly with the change of bedding angle, and presents a good cubic function relationship with bedding angle; only when the bedding angle β is 0° or 90°, the specimen shows a pure mode Ⅰ fracture mode, that is, the change of bedding angle will change the fracture mode of the specimen. At the same time, the mode Ⅰ fracture toughness of specimens decreases gradually with the increase of bedding angle, and presents a quadratic function relationship with bedding angle. When the bedding angle is perpendicular to the precrack angle, the mode Ⅰ fracture toughness of the specimen is the largest. When the bedding angle is parallel to the precrack angle, the mode Ⅰ fracture toughness of the specimen is the smallest. In addition, based on the extended finite element method(XFEM), the fracture mechanism of the half-disc layered shale specimen is studied, and the accuracy of the test and calculation results is verified.