To gain insights into the impact of lithological and geometric configurations of Shendong strata on the propagation of damage within overlying rock layers, a model simulating overlying rock movement and damage propagation under varied lithological combinations was developed. The study involved four physical and seventeen numerical simulations to assess geological factors influencing strata be­havior post-mining. Key findings include: Decreasing the thickness of the key stra­tum reduces the first weighting interval, accelerates fracture initiation, enlarges the subsidence area, and increases maximum subsidence; Raising the key stratum elevation diminishes both subsidence and its range, while delaying fracture initi­ation; Reducing mining thickness results in smaller pressure fluctuations, slightly extends the first weighting interval, and decreases both subsidence and its range; Enhancing key stratum hardness delays fracture occurrence, lowers the fracture zone height, and decreases the plastic zone volume.