Abstract Taking the gob-side entry retaining (GER) in the 28,051 panel of Xinzhuang Coal Mine as the engineering background, this study introduces the second invariant of deviatoric stress (J₂) as a quantitative indicator of surrounding rock failure. By constructing mechanical model, performing FLAC3D numerical simulation, and conducting industrial experiment, the full-cycle failure evolution law of the surrounding rock and its control technology are systematically investigated.