Digital-image based numerical simulation on failure process of high-sulfur coals with and without lateral constraint

In order to investigate the influence of lateral constraint on the breakage behaviour of high-sulfur coal, this paper combines digital image processing technology and rock failure process analysis system RFPA^2D to simulate the failure process of high-sulfur coal in Pu´an of Guizhou under uniaxial static load, and analyse the influences of lateral constraint on the crushing effect and energy consumption of high-sulfur coal. The numerical results indicate that better crushing effect and dissociation of pyrite can be acquired in the situation without lateral constraint than with lateral constraint, and consequently it can get good desulfurization effect.