Characterization and differences of acoustic signals response of semi-circular red sandstone under combined monotonous and cyclic loadings

After underground coal mining, rocks are often subjected to tensile damage by the interaction of dynamic and static loadings. The process of rock fracture development under dynamic and static loadings will be released in the form of acoustic energy to form an acoustic signal. In addition, the acoustic signals in dynamic loading differ from that in static loading. Therefore, this study conducted three-point bending experiments with continuous dynamic loading and dynamic–static coupling loading on semi-circular red sandstone specimens. The acoustic signals during red sandstone specimens’ tensile damage were monitored in real-time. The results show that red sandstone’s tensile strength and deformation are enhanced under dynamic–static coupling loading. The red sandstone has a more effective acoustic emission hit rate, energy rate, and r during tensile damage under continuous dynamic loading. In dynamic loading, macroscopic fractures are developed in red sandstone, which has few acoustic emission events but releases strong acoustic signals. In static loading, the pores inside the red sandstone are compacted, the rock particles are rearranged, and the tiny fractures are closed, and its acoustic emission events are many but low in energy. In addition, the rock particles in the front area of the static loading fracture are tightly cemented, which increases the difficulty of separating the rock particles in the front area of the fracture under dynamic loading. Then weakening the red sandstone fracture development process and suppressing its acoustic signals. The research results provide more insight into the differences in tensile damage processes in red sandstone under the interaction of dynamic and static loadings.