“…The mechanical properties of soft rock are subject to the influence of numerous factors, encompassing internal factors such as mineral composition, microstructure, (Zhou et al, 2021), and type of cementation (Jiang et al, 2014), as well as complex geological environment, such as ground stress, groundwater, and temperature (Lu et al, 2016;Pathiranagei and Gratchev, 2022). In soft rocks that are rich in clay minerals, the degree of deterioration due to moisture content is particularly significant because of the intense interaction between clay mineral particles and water (Cao et al, 2012;He et al, 2000;Zhou et al, 2005).…”