<p>Understanding the influence of anchorage parameters on bolt support effectiveness is crucial for optimizing support designs. Although prior studies have recognized the compensatory effect of bolts, the underlying mechanisms by which anchorage parameters modulate the support stress field and fracture behavior poorly understood. This study integrates laboratory experiments with discrete element method (DEM) simulations to investigate the spatiotemporal stress/energy evolution and fracture transition in bolt-reinforced coal ribs under compression. Results show that pre-tensioned bolts effectively mitigate coalburst by suppressing fracturing. Specifically, the crack initiation and damage stress thresholds increase logarithmically with pre-tension force but decrease with anchorage length. Concurrently, with the increase in pre-tension, the surface damage rate, the mass of far- and near-field coal burst-spalling debris, and the crack dimensions all exhibit a progressive decrease. Conversely, extending the anchorage length yields the opposite trends. Furthermore, DEM simulations reveal a distinct “two-compression-one-tension” support stress field coupled with an anisotropic force chain network, highlighting the asymmetric nature of load transmission and localized stress partitioning mechanisms. Crucially, both the magnitude and spatiotemporal evolution of the loading-induced support stress field are fundamentally dictated by the initial stress state, thereby providing new insights into the support design. Driven by the stress compensation-reinforcement mechanisms, the energy storage capacity and bonding strength of the coal ribs is enhanced, while the kinetic energy conversion ratio is significantly minimized. This elevates the critical threshold for coalburst initiation and diminishes the potential energy source for debris ejection, thereby successfully mitigating coalburst hazards.</p>