In　the　seismic　mountainous　regions　such　as　western　China,　it　is　usuallly　inevitable　to　construct　tunnels　near　active　fault　zones.　Those　fault-crossing　tunnel　structures　can　be　extremely　vulnerable　during　earthquakes.　Extensive　experimental　studies　have　been　conducted　on　the　response　of　continuous　mountain　tunnels　under　reverse　and　normal　fault　movements,　limited　experimental　investigations　are　available　in　the　literatures　on　mountain　tunnels　with　special　structural　measures　crossing　strike-slip　faults.　In　this　study,　a　new　experimental　facility　for　simulating　the　movement　of　strike-slip　fault　was　developed,　accounting　for　the　spatial　deformation　characteristics　of　large　active　fault　zones.　Two　groups　of　sandbox　experiment　were　performed　on　the　scaled　tunnel　models　to　investigate　the　evolution　of　ground　deformation　and　surface　rupture　subjected　to　strike-slip　fault　motion　and　its　impact　on　a　water　conveyance　tunnel.　The　nonlinear　response　and　damage　mechanism　of　continuous　tunnels　and　tunnels　incorporated　with　specially　designed　articulated　system　were　examined.　The　test　results　show　that　most　of　slip　between　stationary　block　and　moving　block　occurred　within　the　fault　core,　and　significant　surface　ruptures　are　observed　along　the　fault　strike　direction　at　the　fault　damage　zone.　The　continuous　tunnel　undergoes　significant　shrinkage　deformation　and　diagonal-shear　failure　near　the　slip　surface　and　resulted　in　localized　collapse　of　tunnel　lining.　The　segments　of　articulated　system　tunnel　suffer　a　significant　horizontal　deflection　of　about　5°,　which　results　in　opening　and　misalignment　at　the　flexible　joint.　The　width　of　the　damaged　zone　of　the　articulated　system　tunnel　is　about　0.44　to　0.57　times　that　of　the　continuous　tunnel.　Compared　to　continuous　tunnels,　the　articulated　design　significantly　reduces　the　axial　strain　response　of　the　tunnel　lining,　but　increases　the　circumferential　tensile　strain　at　the　tunnel　crown　and　invert.　It　is　concluded　that　articulated　design　provides　an　effective　measure　to　reduce　the　extent　of　damage　in　mountain　tunnel.　©　2024　Tongji　University