Abstract: Under the disturbance of mining in the fault area, the rock mass damage evolution is complicated. Based on the geological characteristics of Qingshuiying Coal Mine, we build a physical similar experimental model which integrates acoustic emission, overlying strata deformation monitoring, thermal infrared imaging and other experimental methods. The coal and rock mass structures in the fault area under the disturbance of mining have been studied on the movement and failure characteristics of the upper and lower plates and the evolvement laws of stress, strain and strain. The study shows that the longth of fault activated by shear slip is about 20 m. During the period of passing through fault, the overburden rock structure is damaged by “arc arch” in the fault zone affected by mining. The height of collapse is 12 m to 18 m (average height is 15 m) and the height of fracture zone is about 75 m. There are great differences in the acoustic emission characteristics between the inside and outside the fault. The overlying fault in the footwall of the fault is disturbed by mining, and it slides to the goaf, and the roof pressure is intense and the load is high; AE signal is active, the energy rate is 704 977.96 and the number of events is 25 370 respectively.