Characterization and Testing of Coal and Rock

Coal and rock are complex porous-fractured media. Their pore heterogeneity, fracture roughness evolution, and multi-scale structural characteristics pose core challenges restricting energy exploitation, mine safety, and deep mining stability. Conventional characterization methods fail to quantitatively depict the “order within disorder” of coal and rock. Advanced analytical theories serve as a fundamental mathematical tool for describing the complex morphology of coal and rock pore-fractures and quantifying structural evolution. Advanced testing technologies, including low-field nuclear magnetic resonance, micro CT, high-pressure mercury intrusion, low-temperature gas adsorption, acoustic emission, etc., provide high-precision and multi-scale data support for coal and rock structure characterization. This Research Topic focuses on the interdisciplinary integration of advanced analytical theories and advanced testing, collecting the latest research achievements in coal and rock pore-fracture structure, mechanical damage, seepage evolution, energy exploitation and engineering application.This Research Topic serves as an academic exchange platform to break barriers between basic theories, experimental techniques and engineering applications, and address industrial drawbacks including insufficient quantification, ambiguous mechanisms and backward technologies in traditional coal and rock research. Through interdisciplinary and multi-technology integrated innovation, it further optimizes the multi-scale quantitative characterization system for coal and rock, enhances the accurate prediction capability of evolutionary processes such as coal and rock damage, seepage and instability, and tackles key technical difficulties in deep coal mining disaster prevention, underground geotechnical engineering stability, and efficient development of energy.This Research Topic invites submissions that highlight both characterization and application in coal and rock engineering grounded in advanced analytical theories coupled with advanced testing technologies. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Fine characterization of coal/rock microstructure based on advanced testing technology• Evolution characteristics and testing analysis of coal/rock damage and fracture process• Characterization and mathematical model of the mass transfer characteristics of coal/rock fluid transport• Prediction and evaluation of deformation and failure of surrounding rock in complex coal/rock engineering• AI theory empowered intelligent testing and technological innovation in coal/rock engineering• Mechanism and engineering application of disaster prevention and control in deep coal/rock engineering. Topic editors: Zhen Zhang, Ping Chang, Junjie Ma, Gaofeng Liu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82052/characterization-and-testing-of-coal-and-rock