During　the　1995　Kobe　earthquake,　the　Daikai　subway　station　witnessed　serious　collapse,　which　attracted　the　attention　of　people　to　the　earthquake　damage　response　of　the　subway　structure.　To　study　the　earthquake　failure　mechanism　of　a　subway　station　structure,　two　comparative　dynamic　centrifuge　tests　were　performed.　During　the　centrifuge　tests,　many　important　physical　quantities　cannot　be　directly　monitored　with　appropriate　instruments　due　to　many　limitations,　such　as　extremely　small　model　structures,　extremely　high　collection　frequency　and　complex　centrifugal　environment.　To　study　the　earthquake　failure　mechanism　of　a　subway　station　structure　in　depth,　an　extended　analysis　of　model　tests　was　performed　by　means　of　numerical　model.　Finally,　the　earthquake　failure　mechanism　was　summarized　in　detail　based　on　the　numerical　analysis.　　©　Published　under　licence　by　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.