Abstract: In this paper, the theoretical model and RFPA system were used to study the deformation and failure process of rock - coal. Based on the theoretical analysis, it is shown that the essential mechanical properties of the rock - coal in the process of rockburst can be investigated by virtue of rock - coal theoretical model. On the other hand, the effect of the volume proportion of rock in rock - coal model on the ultimate failure was taken into account in the numerical test. Moreover, the stress - strain curves of the rock - coal models and the stress field and the distribution of acoustic emission (AE) were obtained through the numerical test, and the results keep good accordance with theory.