Impact of the water-wedge deterioration effect of pulsating water injection on AE waveforms and crack propagation during fracturing processes

•The influence of prolonged pulsating water injection treatment on the fracture performance of the coal was investigated.•The characterisation of the acoustic emission signal waveforms was carried out using the Hilbert-Huang Transform theory.•This study takes into account the differences in temporal scales between laboratory and field hydraulic fracturing processes. Pulsating hydraulic fracturing (PHF) is a promising technology for enhancing the extraction of coalbed methane. In this study, the effects of pulsating water response of coal fractures were investigated. Prior to quasi-static fracturing, coal samples were subjected to pulsating water injection for 120 min. The fracturing process was monitored using an acoustic emission (AE) system and compared with direct fracturing without pulsating water injection. The Hilbert–Huang transform theory was employed for the analysis. The AE signals were examined in time and frequency domains, across various parameters, including intrinsic mode function (IMF) components, energy, three-dimensional spectrum, location features, and crack development. The results indicated a 37.82 % reduction in initiation pressure, accompanied by decreased AE counts and the promotion of gradual fracture initiation. Initially, the AE waveform amplitudes decreased, followed by an increase in distinctive patterns. Water injection primarily reduced the amplitudes during unstable fracturing, shifting the extreme IMF component forward. Moreover, it decreased the peak energy, shortened the energy release duration, and improved the signal-to-noise ratio during crack propagation. Water injection also narrowed the frequency distribution range, concentrated the energy distribution, expanded the extent of the fracture, increased the number of location points, and induced more macroscopic cracks within the coal body.