Abstract: In order to determine the development height of the overburden water flowing fracturing zone in the upper 15 coal seam of Tianzhuang Coal Mine, the 15101 working face is taken as an example. The FLAC^3D numerical simulation software is used to establish the stope model, and the strain energy failure criterion is used as the extension criterion of overburden water flowing fracturing zone. The development range of the fracture zone is determined by the strain energy failure criterion, and the numerical simulation of the overlying strata movement law of the coal seam roof caused by mine exploitation is carried out. A numerical simulation method based on the strain energy failure criterion for determining the plastic zone is proposed. By analyzing the damage range, the height of the overburden water flowing fracturing zone is determined. The results of theoretical and field observation are used to validate the simulation result. The height of the overburden water flowing fractured zone according to the numerical simulation result is 22.8 m. The theoretical calculations are from 14.4 m to 27.3 m and the field observation is 21.44 m. The result obtained by the strain energy failure criterion is closer to the field observations. The accuracy of the development height of the overburden water flowing fracturing zone obtained by the strain energy failure criterion is validated.