In　sandy　cobble　stratum,　the　contents　of　rock　blocks　along　the　tunnel　line　present　to　be　different.　The　tunneling-induced　ground　deformation　under　different　rock　contents　is　perceived　as　a　main　concern.　Considering　the　heterogeneity　of　ground　material,　the　meso-scale　numerical　models　of　sandy　cobble　strata　were　used　to　simulate　tunnel　excavation,　in　which　the　rock　blocks　and　soil　matrix　were　treated　as　separated　constituents.　By　comparing　the　ground　stress　of　simulation　results　with　that　of　theoretical　values,　the　applicability　of　meso-scale　models　was　verified.　The　simulation　results　show　that　the　rock　content　has　a　significant　effect　on　the　ground　deformation　performance.　With　the　increase　of　rock　content　from　0　to　50%,　the　maximum　ground　settlement　and　the　expansion　of　plastic　zone　gradually　decreases,　and　the　variation　rule　of　the　maximum　ground　settlement　with　rock　content　can　be　described　by　a　normal　distribution　function.　Meanwhile,　the　tunnel　deformation　pattern　changes　from　non-uniform　convergence　to　uniform　convergence.　It　is　also　found　that　the　relationship　between　the　maximum　subsurface　settlement　or　the　width　coefficient　of　subsurface　settlement　trough　and　subsurface　depth　can　be　described　by　a　power　function,　respectively.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer　Nature　Switzerland　AG　2024.