• Non-bulbed cable bolts exhibit superior energy absorption and displacement capacity under impact loading compared to bulbed cables, despite lower initial peak loads.
• Increasing encapsulation length in bulbed cables reduces initial peak load but enhances displacement and energy absorption, indicating a trade-off in dynamic performance.
• The dominant failure mechanism is debonding at the cable-grout interface, characterized by frictional sliding and cable rotation, which governs energy dissipation.
• The findings provide critical insights for designing more resilient ground support systems in seismically active underground environments, improving safety and stability.