Experimental Investigation on the Tensile Strength of Coal: Consideration of the Specimen Size and Water Content

We experimentally and theoretically explored the microstructure-related effects of water and specimen size on the tensile strength of coal. Cylindrical coal specimens with different sizes (diameters of 25, 38, and 50 mm) and water contents (immersion time lengths: 0, 4, and 7 days) were processed. The microscopic features and mineral compositions of the coal samples were imaged and characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray...