Abstract: To address the frequent failure of initial support structures in steeply inclined rock strata, unconfined compression tests were conducted on steel tube components, vertical SRLD elements, and V-SRLD elements. Based on the test results, numerical simulation methods for steel tube components and vertical SRLD elements were established using a tri-linear elastic constitutive model combined with Euler′s buckling formula for compression members. Numerical simulations of a steeply inclined phyllite Tunnelling were then performed to evaluate the applicability of circumferential yielding support. The results show that: (1) circumferential yielding support promotes stress relief and energy release of the surrounding rock, thereby reducing damage to the shotcrete layer; (2) under the bench excavation method, shotcrete damage at sidewalls caused by bending is difficult to prevent using yielding support, whereas under full-face excavation, shotcrete damage is effectively controlled when combined with circumferential yielding support; (3) when installed at the vault, vertical SRLD elements, owing to their higher initial stiffness, are more effective in resisting interlayer slip of steeply inclined phyllite; and (4) under circumferential yielding support, slip between the shotcrete layer and surrounding rock readily induces tensile yielding of rock bolts.