The wide application of pre-stressed bolting technology in coal mine tunnels has made the nondestructive stress wave reflection method of determining bolting quality an important one. The effect of the support plate on the dynamic response of the pre-stressed anchor is of particular interest. A theoretical analysis and numerical simulations are used to identify the factors affecting the contact stress between the support plate and the rock wall. A formula allowing the calculation of contact stress is presented. Stress wave propagation through the nut, support plate, and rock wall are predicted. The dynamic response signals were measured in the field using prestressed anchors pre-tightened to different torques. The effects from the support plate on the dynamic response were recorded and the results compared to the predictions of pre-stressed anchor. This work provides a theoretical reference for the signal processing of dynamic reflected wave signals in anchor bolts. The wide application of pre-stressed bolting technology in coal mine tunnels has made the nondestructive stress wave reflection method of determining bolting quality an important one. The effect of the support plate on the dynamic response of the pre-stressed anchor is of particular interest. A theoretical analysis and numerical simulations are used to identify the factors affecting the contact stress between the support plate and the rock wall are. predicted. The dynamic response signals were measured in the field using prestressed anchors pre-tightened to different torques. The effects from the support plate on the dynamic response were recorded and the results compared to the predictions of pre-stressed anchor. This work provides a theoretical reference for the signal processing of dynamic reflected wave signals in anchor bolts.