Uniaxial compression experiments and acoustic emission (AE) tests were conducted on weakly consolidated sandstone samples with bedding angle of 0°, 45°, and 90° collected from Xiaojihan coal mine in Shaanxi Province, China; the acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of bedding sandstone were investigated, including the influencing mechanism of bedding angle on characteristics, spatial distribution, and b value changes of AE activity. According to the research, AE ringing counting rate and energy rate are the highest and energy release is intense during the loading process when the bedding angle is 0°, and these values decrease and the energy release is gentle with rising of the angle. Based on spatial distribution, the number of AE events was the largest and cluster phenomenon occurs between the bedding plane when the bedding inclination was 0°, which decreased and sprouted along the plane of bedding plane at 45° and which was smaller and evenly distributed in the space at 90°. With the increase of bedding angle, the proportion of large‐scale microcracks decreases and the variation range of microcracks narrows down. Therefore, under the same uniaxial compression conditions, the b value increases by the increase of bedding angle. The research results offer reliable reference to carry out monitoring work on acoustic emission and microseism of mine with layer rock (rock mass).

A deep understanding of the mechanical properties of weakly cemented sandstones in coal-bearing strata is crucial for ensuring the safety of coal mining operations. This study addresses this problem by investigating the deformation characteristics of such rocks through triaxial compression tests, and a novel piecewise constitutive model was developed, integrating the Double-strain Hoek model (TPHM) and statistical damage theory. The outcomes highlight several key findings: (1) The experiments revealed a distinct compaction stage in weakly cemented sandstone, which becomes shorter with an increase in confining pressure, highlighting a significant mechanical property of these rocks. (2) The piecewise constitutive model demonstrates effectiveness in capturing the compaction stage, the elastic deformation stage, and the post-damage deformation phase, with excellent agreement between the model predictions and experimental data. (3) By incorporating the model into FLAC3D and considering rock homogeneity, the study demonstrates the capability to calculate and predict the stress field migration and the evolution of damaged zones during the failure process of weakly cemented sandstone under various confining pressures. These findings not only contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanical behavior of weakly cemented sandstones but also provide a theoretical framework for evaluating the stability of mines (especially roof and floor slabs) during coal mining activities in such rocks.