The strength characteristics and progressive failure mechanism of soft rock-coal combination samples with consideration given to interface effects

The coal-measure rock masses of China's Ordos Basin are mainly composed of typical soft rock with low strength, which bear loads together with the coal seams during coal mining activities. Accurately determining the mechanical behaviors of combination soft rock and coal masses can provide a basis for underground coal engineering designs. First, uniaxial compression tests were conducted on medium sandstone samples, coal samples, and coal-rock...