Dynamic tensile mechanical properties of thermally damaged sandstone under impact loads and the influence mechanism of composition

•The dynamic direct tensile test of thermally damaged sandstone was carried out.•A predictive model for dynamic tensile properties of thermally damaged sandstones.•The composition and mass fractions of sandstone were analyzed by XRD. The stability of surrounding rock in the combustion void is the key to continuous, safe, and efficient gas production in an underground coal gasification project. The key factors influencing the stability of surrounding rock in the combustion void are high temperature and impact dynamic load. At the same time, rock structure failure mainly depends on the rock materials’ tensile strength. Therefore, it is fundamental to study the dynamic tensile mechanical properties of thermally damaged rocks to control the surrounding rock stability of the combustion void in UCG projects. This paper used the coal measures as the research object. The dynamic direct tensile test of thermally damaged sandstone was carried out using a high-temperature load system and split Hopkinson tension bar (SHTB) test system. The test results showed that the dynamic tensile strength of sandstone increased linearly with the increase in strain rate. In contrast, it increased first and then decreased with temperature. In addition, the nonlinear regression method was applied to establish the prediction model of dynamic tensile properties of thermally damaged sandstone. XRD analyzed the composition and mass fractions of sandstone. From the standpoint of composition change, the change mechanism of the mechanical properties of thermally damaged coal measured in sandstone was illustrated.