Numerical simulation of crack propagation and AE precursor characteristics in coal failure under confining pressures

Abstract

Abstract Predicting coal bursts in deep mining requires understanding the crack propagation and acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of coal under triaxial stress conditions. This study employs discrete element simulation to investigate the mechanical behavior and AE responses of cylindrical coal specimens under varying confining pressures. The results demonstrate that peak strength increases with loading rate, particularly under low confining pressures, while higher pressures dampen this sensitivity. Volumetric strain-stress curves effectively identify crack initiation and damage thresholds, which increase with confining pressure while reducing the duration of unstable crack propagation. The proportion of tensile cracks gradually decreases while the proportions of shear and mixed-mode cracks increase. Specimens remain stable when β t -value < 1 and enter instability when β t -value > 1, with β t -value remaining unaffected by confining pressure variations., Meanwhile, b-value exhibit a “sharp-drop-plateau” pattern prior to failure. These findings provide a theoretical framework for interpreting AE signals in deep mining environments, enhancing coal burst prediction capabilities through mechanistic insights into confining pressure effects on crack evolution and precursor indicator.