In　order　to　investigate　the　seismic　failure　characteristics　of　a　structure　on　the　liquefiable　ground,　a　series　of　shaking　table　tests　were　conducted　based　on　a　plaster　model　of　a　three-story　and　three-span　subway　station.　The　dynamic　responses　of　the　structure　and　ground　soil　under　main　shock　and　aftershock　ground　motions　were　studied.　The　sand　boils　and　waterspouts　phenomena,　ground　surface　cracks,　and　earthquake-induced　ground　surface　settlements　were　observed　in　the　testing.　For　the　structure,　the　upward　movement,　local　damage　and　member　cracking　were　obtained.　Under　the　main　shock,　there　appeared　longer　liquefaction　duration　for　the　ground　soil　while　the　pore　pressure　dissipated　slowly.　The　acceleration　amplification　effect　of　the　liquefied　soil　was　weakened,　and　the　soil　showed　a　remarkable　shock　absorption　and　concentration　effect　with　low　frequency　component　of　ground　motion.　However,　under　the　aftershock,　the　dissipation　of　pore　pressure　in　the　ground　soil　became　obvious.　The　peak　acceleration　of　the　structure　reduced　with　the　buried　depth.　Dynamic　soil　pressure　on　the　side　wall　was　smaller　in　the　middle　and　larger　at　both　ends.　The　interior　column　of　the　model　structure　was　the　weakest　member.　The　peak　strain　and　damage　degree　for　both　sides　of　the　interior　column　exhibited　an　S＇　type　distribution　along　the　height.　Moreover,　the　seismic　response　of　both　ground　soil　and　subway　station　structure　exhibited　a　remarkable　spatial　effect.　The　seismic　damage　development　process　and　failure　mechanism　of　the　structure　illustrated　in　this　study　can　provide　references　for　the　engineers　and　researcher.　Copyright　(c)　2013　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.