An　interaction　model　is　proposed　to　describe　the　interaction　between　the　energy-absorbing　rock　bolt　and　the　rock　mass.　Based　on　the　plane-strain　axial　symmetry　assumption　and　the　incremental　theory　of　plasticity,　the　equilibrium　equations　and　compatibility　equations　of　rock　mass,　as　well　as　the　response　of　the　energy-absorbing　rock　bolt　are　deduced　theoretically.　The　proposed　method　was　programmed　in　a　Visual　Basic　environment,　and　a　semi-analytical　solution　for　the　coupling　model　was　achieved.　The　reinforcement　mechanism　of　the　energy-absorbing　rock　bolt　in　conventional　tunneling　is　clearly　demonstrated　through　an　illustrative　case　study.　The　reinforcement　effect　of　the　energy-absorbing　rock　bolt　under　different　conditions　was　estimated　quantitatively,　and　its　mechanical　work　transfer　ability　is　presented.　In　addition,　the　validity　of　the　proposed　method　was　verified　through　numerical　simulations.　Finally,　a　number　of　derivative　cases　were　investigated　to　reveal　the　influence　of　the　bolt　and　rock　properties　on　the　reinforcement　effect　and　the　bolt　work　transferred　on　the　rock　mass.　In　the　case　of　higher　in-situ　stress　or　low-strength　rock　mass,　the　support　effect　of　the　energy-absorbing　rock　bolt　is　significantly　improved,　and　the　bolt　absorbs　more　energy.　Increasing　the　bolt　installation　density　could　always　be　helpful　for　the　stabilization　of　the　surrounding　rock　mass.　However,　additional　rock-bolt　length　could　hardly　affect　ground　reinforcement　because　the　bolt　section　embedded　in　the　elastic　region　of　the　rock　mass　could　barely　help　to　constrain　the　elastic　displacement　release.　The　bolt　should　be　installed　no　later　than　the　stage　of　critical　inner　pressure,　namely　when　the　plastic　region　occurs.　©　2018