Abstract: Based on the physical mechanical condition of roadway surrounding rock,analyzing the deformation and failure mechanism of roadway in soft coal seam with composite roof with the numerical simulation,the results show that the main reason of the tunnel deformation is the original supporting lack of the active efficient,and the compound roof and the soft coal working slope with poor physical mechanical property.Bed separation and caving of the compound roof,rib spalling and subsidence of the roadway's sides were easily occurred under the rock stress which interact and mutual work with each other.Therefore,we put forward supporting measures in process of roadway excavation and rational support design of roadway.