Abstract:The mining rate affects the results of stress distribution,deformation and failure process in surrounding rocks in mechanized top-caving mining face. The rate effect can be summarized as follows:(1) the completion of stress transition in surrounding rock under different mining rates;(2) the variation of loading and unloading rate in process of different cutting depths in unit period of time;(3) the development of deformation and stress distribution in rock due to creep behavior. Based on the mining state in Xieqiao Colliery,numerical investigation is carried out to reveal the fact that the reduced stress zone around the mining face decreases with the increase of mining rate. Consequently,the failure zone decreases,and the peak stress locates nearer the mining face while the stress value increases. Since the deformation period becomes shorter,as a result,the displacement reduces. The study points out that appropriately increasing the mining rate of mechanized top caving mining face will benefit the mining face management and safe production.