The method of symbiotic cellular automaton, which combines two approaches to
describe the simulated media – the method of conventional cellular automaton and method of
movable cellular automaton, has been developed for modeling and study of heterogeneous
materials. Verification of the method has been carried out by comparing the simulation results
of sorption of carbon dioxide in the lignite with experimental data. Possibilities of the method
are exemplified by results of numerical study of the influence of the gas phase on strength and
fracture of the lignite specimens
