As　a　major　element　of　the　transportation　network,　tunnels　are　unavoidably　threatened　by　accidental　loads　such　as　vehicle　bombs　and　tank　truck　explosions.　The　goal　of　this　research　is　to　explore　the　dynamic　characteristics　and　damage　assessment　of　tunnel　structures　under　contact　blast　loads.　First,　three　scaled-down　reinforced　concrete　tunnel　models　were　made,　and　the　explosion　test　and　static　loading　test　were　carried　out　successively　to　evaluate　the　axial　residual　bearing　capacity,　axial　displacement　and　failure　mechanism　of　the　tunnel.　Secondly,　the　finite　element　model　is　built　by　utilizing　LS-DYNA,　and　the　reliability　of　the　finite　element　method　is　confirmed　by　comparing　the　data　of　the　explosion　test　with　the　static　loading　test.　At　the　same　time,　the　calculation　method　for　damage　coefficient　and　the　classification　criteria　for　damage　grade　based　on　axial　residual　bearing　capacity　are　presented.　Then,　based　on　the　finite　element　method,　the　propagation　process　of　the　explosion　shock　wave　in　the　tunnel　and　the　damage　mechanism　of　the　tunnel　are　investigated.　Finally,　seven　explosion　scenarios　are　developed,　the　damage　degree　of　these　seven　tunnels　under　the　blast　load　is　quantitatively　analyzed,　and　further　anti-blast　design　ideas　are　put　forth.　The　study　in　this　article　may　give　an　intended　reference　for　the　damage　assessment,　anti-explosion　design　and　strengthening　work　of　reinforced　concrete　tunnels.　©　2023　Tongji　University