Abstract: Rock bursts often release high-impact energy,posing a significant threat to tunnel construction.Polyester fiber flexible protective nets,known for their strong energy absorption and light weight,have great potential in mitigating rock burst damage.To investigate the mechanical behavior of these flexible nets during rock burst impacts,multi-scenario numerical simulations were conducted.The mechanical parameters of the strips and nodes were determined through static testing,and the flexible net’s numerical model was calibrated based on these results.3D scanning technology was used to create scaled grid models of typical rock burst blocks.A numerical model of tunnel arch protection was established,and simulations were performed with different block shapes and impact energies.The results showed that:(1)The deformation of the flexible net is primarily influenced by the contact area between the burst block and the net surface,as well as the mass of the burst block;(2)At maximum displacement,the three anchor bolts closest to theimpact point experience the highest tensile forces,while the strips and nodes near these bolts experience the greatest tensile and peeling forces,respectively;(3)The forces on the strips and nodes are related to the energy,shape,and impact position of the burst block,while the forces on the anchor bolts are mainly determined by the impact energy.These findings provide valuable theoretical support for the application of flexible protective systems in rock burst prevention.