Abstract: For the optimization of roadway layout and coal pillar stability under the influence of denudation areas in shallow buried coal seams, the air-return roadway in the western mining area of Yaoqu Coal Mine was selected as the research object. Through a combination of theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and field engineering verification, the deformation and failure characteristics, as well as the energy evolution law of the roadway under the influence of the denudation area, were thoroughly examined. Additionally, the failure behavior of coal pillars of varying widths was analyzed based on the partial stress yield criterion and energy criterion. Ultimately, the optimal coal pillar size was determined following the optimization of the roadway layout. The results indicate that the presence of a denudation area significantly increases the stress in the surrounding rock and leads to the accumulation of strain energy, thereby exacerbating the deformation and failure of the roadway's surrounding rock. When the hard rock strata are disturbed, the change in strain energy is relatively minor. However, this disturbance does not impede the transfer of energy. In contrast, the soft coal rock mass exhibits a substantial change in strain energy. Following the optimization of the roadway layout, the deviatoric stress and strain energy within the coal pillar initially increase, then stabilize, and ultimately decrease during the excavation process. When the width of coal pillar between roadways is less than 9 m, both the deviatoric stress and energy curves within the coal pillar exhibit a "bell-shaped" distribution, with values exceeding the threshold for yield failure. When the width of coal pillar is between 10 and 13 m, the deviatoric stress and energy curves transform into a "saddle-shaped" distribution. During this period, the area within the coal pillar where the stress is below the yield limit gradually expands, and the bearing capacity correspondingly increases. Conversely, when the coal pillar width exceeds 13 m, the air-return roadway becomes too close to the denudation area. The coal body becomes unstable due to the superposition of dual stress and energy influences from both the denudation area and the air-return roadway. Accrodingly, the optimal width range for the coal pillar is determined to be 10 to 12 m. Considering both the stability of coal pillar and the minimization of the denudation area's impact, a coal pillar width of 10 m is selected for engineering implementation. Further monitoring demonstrates that the overall deformation of the roadway is minimal, and the deformation of surrounding rock is effectively controlled.