Abstract: The potential response characteristics of coal and rock failure process are analyzed, and the coupling relationship between damage and potential signal is established according to the relationship between the potential and the deformation damage.The results show that there is a good correspondence between potential signal and fracture damage in the process of coal rock failure.In the early stage of loading, the damage and deformation of coal rock are less, the micro-fracture development is slower, and the potential signal is less, and is more stable.At the later stage of loading, the damage and destruction of coal rock are constantly increasing.When the load is abruptly changed, the coal and rock damage is significant, and the potential signal shows the corresponding mutation.The more intense the rupture of the sample, the more significant the potential mutation is.Based on the theory of statistical damage, the coupling relationship between damage and potential signals of coal and rock is established.The stress-strain curves are obtained based on the potential accumulation at different damage stages.The correlation coefficient between the calculated stress and the measured stress is 0.623 7, which is significantly correlated with the measured value.And the theoretical value has a precursor law.The change of potential response characteristics can reflect the evolution process of coal and rock damage, and provide a detection method for coal rock failure.