By　using　the　Holmquist-Johnson-Cook　(HJC),　the　constitutive　model,　the　Φ50　mm　split　Hopkinson　pressure　bar　(SHPB)　tests　for　coal　have　been　numerically　simulated　with　the　finite　element　analysis　software　LS-DYNA.　The　simulation　results　have　reoccurred　the　stress　waves　shape,　stress　variation　and　the　destruction　process　of　coal　specimen　during　the　SHPB　tests.　By　contrast,　it　has　been　found　that　the　numerical　simulation　is　similar　to　the　experiment　results,　and　that　the　dynamic　destruction　process　of　coal　specimen　during　the　SHPB　tests　can　be　reoccurred　reasonably　with　HJC　constitutive　model.　The　numerical　simulation　has　shown　that:　1)　The　coal　specimens　have　been　destroyed　firstly　from　around　with　the　destruction　mode　of　splitting　failure　in　the　axial　direction　mainly.　2)　When　the　impact　velocity　is　about　3　m/s,　the　destruction　of　the　coal　is　caused　by　both　compression　and　tensile;　When　impact　velocity　is　about　9　m/s,　the　destruction　of　the　coal　is　caused　mainly　by　compression.　3)　The　destruction　of　the　coal　is　out　of　sync　with　the　peak　stress:　when　the　dynamic　load　is　lower,　the　destruction　of　coal　specimens　lags　behind　the　stress　peak;　when　the　dynamic　load　is　higher,　the　destruction　of　coal　specimens　is　ahead　of　the　stress　peak.　©　2016,　China　University　of　Mining　and　Technology.　All　right　reserved.