Numerical Simulation of Coal’s Mechanical Properties and Fracture Process Under Uniaxial Compression: Dual Effects of Bedding Angle and Loading Rate

In view of the significant influence of bedding structure on the mechanical characteristics and fracture behavior of coal, uniaxial compression discrete element numerical simulation experiments were carried out on coal samples with bedding angles of 0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°, and loading rates of 10−3/s, 10−2/s, 10−1/s, and 100/s, respectively, using PFC 6.0 software. The dual effects of bedding angle and loading rate on the mechanical properties of coal and its damage behavior were analyzed. The results show that (1) as the loading rate increases, the peak strength of the specimen increases, and the damage intensifies. The counts of the three types of cracks increased exponentially, while the crack growth rate was dramatic. (2) With the increase in loading rate, the density of the compressive stress force chain inside the specimen increases and gathers to the two ends, and the density of the tensile stress force chain is basically unchanged but gathers to the middle. The overall strength of the force chain changes according to the law of decreasing and then increasing. (3) With the increase in the bedding angle, the peak strength decreases and then increases, and the curve is approximately “V” shape. When the bedding angle is 60° and 90°, the peak stress is minimum and maximum, respectively. Shear cracks are dominant in the model, and the crack distribution shows a trend of increasing and then decreasing. (4) With the increase in the bedding angle, the density of the compressive stress force chain gradually decreases, and the density of the tensile stress force chain appears to be aggregated. The overall strength of the force chain changes according to the law of decreasing and then increasing.