In order to study the mechanical characteristics of the cutter in rock cutting process and the prediction of mean peak force reaction on the cutter

a numerical model of rock cutting is established based on the fracture mechanics and finite element theory. The process of the rock reaction on the cutter is simulated and investigated; and the reaction forces on the cutter are obtained with different rock mechanical characteristics and impacting conditions of the cutter. The results show that the impacting velocity within a certain range has less effect on the peck cutting force

the variation of reaction force is unanimous to rock volume changes with stepwise decreasing. The relationship of mean peak force reaction on the cutter obtained from simulations

experiments and theoretical models is investigated with the linear regression analysis. The results show good correlations that the linear correlation coefficients between numerical results and the results of experiments and Goktan’s theory are 0.812

0.930 respectively; and it is indicated that this numerical model is proper and feasible to simulate the rock cutting process.