Abstract <p>The traditional 121 coal mining method often results in severe roadway deformation and surface damage due to advance roadway excavation and coal pillar retention, which creates stress concentrations and resource wastage. To address these issues, the N00 mining method has been proposed, which integrates roof cutting and NPR cable support to fundamentally change the roadway formation process. This study uses theoretical analysis, numerical simulation with UDEC, and field engineering tests to investigate the N00 method’s mechanism for enhancing roadway stability and reducing surface damage. Theoretical analysis shows that the N00 method optimizes the stress state of the surrounding rock by changing the stress disturbance pattern. Numerical simulations indicate that roof cutting increases rock dilatancy, balancing the volume of caved rock with extracted coal and reducing surface deformation. Field tests at Xintai coal mine confirm these findings, showing that the N00 method leads to a more stable roadway with reduced convergence and lower support stress compared to the 121 method. The dilatancy coefficient of caved gob rocks stabilizes at around 1.25–1.3, indicating effective overlying rock dilatancy balance. The N00 method represents a significant innovation in coal mining, enhancing stability, reducing surface damage, and optimizing resource utilization. Future work may focus on optimizing roof cutting parameters and exploring the method’s application in various geological conditions.</p> Article highlights <p><UnorderedList Mark="Bullet"> <ItemContent> <p>N00 mining method changes the roadway formation process to improve the roadway stability.</p> </ItemContent> <ItemContent> <p>Roof cutting and NPR cables in N00 mining method optimize stress for roadway stability.</p> </ItemContent> <ItemContent> <p>N00 mining method increases rock dilatancy through roof cutting and mitigates surface damage.</p> </ItemContent> </UnorderedList></p>