Abstract：The mechanical properties of coal series sedimentary rock and its bursting potential in different moisture contents are studied，and the models and correlations between moisture content and bursting potential are established. The controlling mechanism of moisture content of mechanical properties of sedimentary rock and its bursting potential is also revealed. It is shown that the uniaxial compressive strength and the values of elastic modulus decrease with the increase of moisture content，whose influence degree differs from lithology，and the decreasing rates are controlled by lithology. The rock after peak strength of stress-strain curve represents brittleness and shear failure has obvious strain softening behavior in the condition of dried or with small moisture content. With increase of moisture content，the brittleness index modified(BIM) of rock increases gradually，while elastic deformation exponential decreases and the stored elastic strain energy decreases sharply in the process of stress；however，the consumed permanent plastic deformation energy increases relatively，which means that the bursting potential of rock decreases significantly with the increase of moisture content.
