In　this　work,　the　cumulative　damage　effect　of　tunneling　and　blasting　on　the　rock　surrounding　a　tunnel　is　studied.　Ground　penetrating　radar　(GPR)　is　used　to　detect　the　damage　of　tunnel　surrounding　rock　during　blasting.　and　EEMD-HHT　transform　is　used　to　process　the　obtained　radar　signals　to　obtain　an　intuitive　representation　of　the　damage.　The　relative　relationship　between　fractal　dimension　and　degree　of　damage　is　established　to　analyze　the　damage　evolution　of　the　tunnel　surrounding　rock　quantitatively.　The　results　show　that　the　instantaneous　amplitude　parameter　obtained　by　the　EEMD-HHT　transform　could　reflect　the　damage　characteristics　of　the　original　signal　and　analyze　the　characteristics　of　damage　evolution　quantitatively.　The　effect　of　cyclic　blasting　causes　a　great　direct　disturbance　to　the　area　near　the　blast　source　and　generates　new　fissures,　which　could　aggravate　the　damage.　The　impact　of　blasting　on　areas　located　far　from　the　blast　source　is　mostly　manifested　as　the　expansion　and　penetration　of　existing　cracks.　The　fractal　dimension　of　the　damage　area　is　closely　related　to　the　damage　evolution　of　the　rock　mass;　the　greater　the　change　in　fractal　dimension,　the　more　intense　the　damage　expansion　and　evolution.　This　study　quantitatively　analyzes　changes　in　the　damage　of　tunnel　surrounding　rock　through　fractal　dimensions,　enriches　the　theoretical　system　of　damage　evolution　in　rock　masses,　and　explores　a　new　strategy　to　study　blasting　disturbances　in　tunnel　surrounding　rock.　©　Published　under　licence　by　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.