Abstract: The discontinuous deformation analysis method (DDA) has been widely applied in geotechnical engineering analysis.Based on the calculation principle of spherical particle DDA method, the whole process of roof crack development, penetration and failure in Xiaotun coal mine is simulated.The results show that the characteristics of roof crack generation-propagation-failure reproduced by spherical particle DDA method coincide with the actual development of fracture zone.Spherical particle DDA has practical value in the stability analysis of surrounding rock of roadway.The research results in this paper are of great significance for the extension of the application of discontinuous deformation analysis methods.