To investigate the dynamic instability mechanism of surrounding rock in deep, rockburst-prone coal seams, a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) system was utilized to carry out dynamic impact compression tests on Rock–Coal–Rock (RCR) composites featuring four different seam dip angles, namely 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°. We systematically analyze incorporating high-speed imaging, the mechanical properties, energy evolution, and progressive failure characteristics of the composites under various strain rates. The results indicate that the dynamic compressive strength and elastic modulus of the composites exhibit a significant strain-rate hardening effect. With the increase in the dip angle of the coal seam, the compressive strength of the specimen decreases accordingly. Specifically, the range of 15–30° is identified as a critical transition zone where the failure mode shifts from matrix-dominated bearing to interfacial slip instability. At an impact pressure of 0.12 MPa, the compressive strength drops by 36.9% within this interval. Furthermore, the energy distribution is profoundly modulated by the geometric characteristics of the interface. As the dip angle increases, the degree of wave impedance mismatch at the coal–rock interface intensifies, leading to a sharp rise in the reflected energy ratio (up to 80.7%) and a pronounced attenuation of transmitted energy. Notably, the dissipation energy per unit volume increases with the dip angle, revealing that interfacial sliding and frictional work become the primary energy dissipation pathways under large-inclination conditions. High-speed camera monitoring confirms that the instability mechanism shifts from axial splitting/tension to an interfacial shear-slip mode as the dip angle increases. These findings provide a scientific reference for the stability evaluation of roadway surrounding rock and the prevention of dynamic disasters.
Qin et al. (2026) studied this question.