Mountain　tunnels　in　western　China　usually　intersect　with　the　active　fault　zones　during　the　processes　of　route　selection,　and　the　challenges　of　fault　movement　posed　to　structural　design　and　safe　operation　have　to　be　faced.　The　Xianglu　mountain　tunnel,　which　is　the　first　portion　of　the　Dianzhong　water　diversion　project,　is　taken　as　an　example　in　this　study.　Based　on　the　new　experiment　equipment　for　simulating　strike-slip　faulting,　the　rupture　characteristics　of　rock　masses　and　the　response　characteristics　and　failure　modes　of　the　tunnel　model　with　articulated　design　are　investigated.　The　results　show　that　the　displacement　of　ground　surface　under　strike-slip　fault　movement　has　obvious　discontinuity　at　the　fault　slip　surface.　The　cross-section　of　the　tunnel　intersecting　with　the　fault　slip　surface　changes　from　the　circular　shape　to　the　vertical　ellipse,　and　the　rate　of　diameter　deformation　of　the　horizontal　axis　reaches　6.57%　under　a　given　fault　displacement　of　50　mm.　The　segment　lining　has　a　horizontal　deflection　of　about　5°　under　strike-slip　faulting,　and　meanwhile　there　is　an　obvious　misalignment　between　the　adjacent　segment　linings.　Compared　with　the　continuous　tunnel,　the　articulated　design　can　significantly　reduce　the　strain　response　of　the　lining　structure.　Furthermore,　circumferential　and　oblique　cracks　dominate　the　failure　modes　of　tunnel　in　articulated　design,　which　are　significantly　smaller　than　those　of　continuous　tunnel　in　terms　of　damage　extent　and　range.　©　2022,　Editorial　Office　of　China　Civil　Engineering　Journal.　All　right　reserved.