Lining　cracks　and　water　leakage　induced　by　tunnel　drainage　system　deterioration　occurred　frequently,　which　have　seriously　influenced　the　durability　of　operation　tunnels.　In　this　paper,　a　series　of　model　experiments　and　numerical　simulations　were　performed　to　investigate　the　hydro-mechanical　damage　mechanism　of　the　lining　under　the　drainage　system　deterioration　and　groundwater　height　variation　conditions.　By　combining　model　tests　and　numerical　simulation,　the　seepage　field　distribution,　the　mechanical　characteristics,　and　the　failure　evolution　of　the　lining　were　conducted.　Results　reveal　that　the　water　pressure　behind　the　tunnel　lining　increases　as　the　drainage　system　deterioration,　especially　at　the　tunnel　foot.　The　higher　the　groundwater　height,　the　greater　the　water　pressure　increment　with　the　blockage　process.　Furthermore,　the　internal　force　abruptly　changes　at　the　tunnel　foot　with　the　drainage　system　deterioration,　and　the　maximum　tensile　stress　on　the　lining　foot　outside　reaches　the　damage　strength　of　2　MPa　when　the　groundwater　height　exceeds　30　m,　whereas　the　maximum　compressive　stress　has　not　reached　the　compressive　damage　strength.　Finally,　micro-cracks　under　tension　occur　at　the　outside　of　the　lining　foot　for　the　groundwater　height　of　30　m,　and　the　lining　foot　is　destroyed　with　the　groundwater　uplift　to　40　m.　In　the　case　of　tunnel　drainage　system　deterioration,　the　high　groundwater　heights　exceeding　30　m　will　affect　the　safety　of　the　highway　tunnel＇s　foot.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd