Coal damage mechanism in the developing process of coal and gas outburst

Based on the damage analysis of elliptical aperture,the mechanism of coal damagein the developing process of coal and gas outburst was researched.The results show thatthe damage to coal by gas is mainly caused by the concentrated tensile stress appearing nearthe endpoint of the pores.Fractures in coal,gas pressure,ground stress and the tensilestrength of the coal matrix are the major controlling factors of this kind of damage.When theground stress releases abruptly and the gas pressure is high,tensile failure will occur aroundthe endpoint of the small pores due to gas pressure,and the coal may be broken up like powder;this is called pulverization.Otherwise,when the gas pressure is low,the tensile stress canonly occur around the endpoint of the large pores and fractures due to gas pressure,the fracturesin coal extend and link together,the fracture extension direction is statistically perpendicularto the direction of the minor principal stress.This kind of damage is shown as the stratifiedspall around the outburst hole.