To improve the extraction efficiency of low-permeability coalbed methane and thoroughly investigate the effects of high strength electric detonation on the generation and propagation of fractures in coal, the finite element software LS-DYNA was used to simulate the process of high-strength electric detonation shock wave cracking coal. The effect of coal cracking is mainly analyzed from the factors such as discharge parameters, formation conditions and physical and mechanical parameters of coal. The results show that with the increase of discharge voltage, the crushing area, fracture area, fracture area and radius of coal increase. When the number of discharges increases, the coal crushing zone gradually increases, and the number of fractures increases, but the crack extension length shows a trend of increasing first and then decreasing, but the crack extension length shows a trend of increasing first and then decreasing, which indicates that there is an optimal range of discharge times in practical applications. Under the same discharge voltage, the degree of fragmentation in the coal decreases as its hardness increases, with softer coals exhibiting the best cracking effect. For the same coal sample, an increase in the discharge voltage not only intensifies the fragmentation but also enhances the number and length of fractures. In terms of in-situ stress conditions, a small horizontal principal stress difference favors the formation of radial network fractures in the coal, while a large stress difference tends to produce straight primary fractures perpendicular to the direction of the minimum principal stress. An increase in horizontal in-situ stress inhibits crack propagation, leading to a reduction in the rupture radius and degree of fragmentation in the coal body.