In order to minimize coal resource loss and mitigate the support difficulty of reused gateroad in double-U shaped gateroad layout of high gassy coal mine

a numerical simulation is used to investigate the stress distribution and deformation rule of reused gateroad with respect to different pillar widths. Results show that with one side pillar width increasing

vertical stress peak in surrounding rock moves close to the gateroad and then gets away in one direction. When the pillar is slender

the deformation of slender rib and roof are larger than that of the wider rib and floor. Floor heave increases and becomes the main convergence with pillar width increasing. With stress peak ratio in coal pillar as an indicator

the division of barrier pillar width reveals the relationship between pillar width and gateroad stability. Research results are successfully applied to an engineering practice

and it provides guidance for gateroad layout in the similar situation.