Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the drilling signal characteristics when a PDC drill bit penetrates media of different strengths and to assess the potential of these signals for identifying weak layers within rock formations. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted, and the response characteristics of the PDC drill bit in different-strength media were analyzed across the time domain, frequency domain, and time-frequency domain using statistical analysis, Fourier transform, and empirical mode decomposition (EMD). The results indicate that in the lowest-strength concrete (C10), the drilling speed was the fastest, while the mean, median, and primary distribution ranges of the thrust and torque were the smallest. Some dimensionless time-domain and frequency-domain indicators were found to have limitations in differentiating media of varying strengths. Meanwhile, the time-frequency analysis and EMD of the thrust and torque signals revealed distinct changes at the media boundaries, serving as auxiliary criteria for identifying transitions between different media. The time-frequency analysis and EMD demonstrated clear advantages in identifying these boundaries. These findings provide a theoretical basis for using drilling signals to identify weak layers that pose potential roof collapse hazards in roadway roof strata.