As the core component of TBM rock breaking, the disc cutter is prone to an increase in wear rate and abnormal wear phenomena under complex working conditions. The rock-breaking efficiency of the disc cutter is caused by being reduced. In severe cases, the cutterhead is damaged, and the equipment is forced to stop for tool replacement, and the construction period is extended. The rock-breaking effect of the hob is affected by numerous and complex factors, including tunneling parameters, hob characteristics, and rock mass properties. The rock-breaking movement process of the hob can be swiftly and accurately simulated by using the numerical simulation method, and relevant results can be output. This method is shown to have significant advantages in simulating the rock-breaking process and monitoring the tunneling face. The advantages, disadvantages and application scenarios of the finite element method, discrete element method and coupling method in the simulation of the rock-breaking process of existing tunnel boring machine(TBM) hobs were systematically analyzed. The current application status and development direction of numerical simulation in hob rock-breaking were also discussed. The dynamic interaction between different physical fields can be precisely captured by the coupling method. More comprehensive data support can be provided for the in-depth analysis and prediction of complex systems. The rock-breaking efficiency and service life of the hob can be improved. In the future, numerical simulations of the rock-breaking process can be carried out around the coupling method in research. Accurate simulation and analysis under the combination of multiple platforms can be achieved to meet the actual engineering needs.