In view of the problems of large deformation of surrounding rock, high in-situ stress, and serious soft fracture of rock stratum in deep soft rock roadway, the instability deformation failure mode of deep soft rock roadway is analyzed theoretically. The FLAC^3D software is used to establish a three-dimensional numerical model of surrounding rock damage under load, and to study the displacement, stress, and plastic expansion process of damage and failure evolution in the surrounding rock of the roadway. The mechanical response mechanism of deep soft rock roadway surrounding rock bending deformation, elastoplastic transformation, and unloading failure is verified by MATLAB numerical analysis, and the space-time evolution characteristics of soft rock deformation and failure are revealed. The results show that the surrounding rock of deep soft rock roadway has many failure modes, such as obvious displacement and deformation, high stress concentration, and intensified plastic transformation in the surrounding rock. The vertical stress in the surrounding rock is concentrated at the direct top and bottom, and the horizontal stress is concentrated at the roadway side and bottom; plastic deformation and failure first appeared at the roadway side, and then extended to other parts. The research conclusion provides an important reference for surrounding rock control and roof management of high-stress soft rock roadway under deep excavation disturbance.

In order to explore the fracture law and structural evolution characteristics of overlying strata in deep high-stress mining, according to the geometric characteristics and mechanical causes of overlying strata in different mining stages of the stope, four stages of overlying strata structure model are established and analyzed in turn. According to the characteristics of the overburden load transfer path in the deep high-stress stope, the fracture law and macroscopic mechanical response of overburden are analyzed by MATLAB and PFC^2D numerical simulation method. The evolution model of overburden structure and load transfer in ‘four stages and three modes’ of the deep high-stress stope is constructed, and the stage fracture effect of ‘beam, plate and arch’ is put forward. The results show that the overburden rock is a fixed beam structure before the initial weighting. After the initial weighting, it evolves into a plate structure with three sides fixed and one side simply supported. After the periodic weighting, the overburden rock structure further evolves into a plate structure with one side fixed and three sides simply supported. After full mining, the overburden rock forms an arch structure, and the load is transmitted by the beam–plate–arch path. The findings of the study provide an important basis for exploring the nature of overburden transport and load transfer in deep high-stress quarries and strengthening overburden prevention and control.