Analytical　solutions　are　widely　adopted　in　the　preliminary　seismic　design　of　tunnels,　which　gives　credit　to　their　quick　response　and　convenience　to　provide　the　internal　forces　and　displacements　of　tunnels.　In　the　first　part　of　this　paper,　five　analytical　solutions　are　extensively　verified　by　comparing　them　with　the　reference　solution　which　obtained　by　the　dynamic　finite　element　method.　Some　suggestions　are　given　for　their　application　in　design　according　to　the　prediction　results.　The　analytical　solutions　contain　some　assumptions,　which　may　not　be　applicable　to　all　possible　scenarios.　Therefore,　the　application　scope　of　analytical　solution　in　practical　engineering　is　limited,　and　this　application　scope　has　not　been　discussed　at　present.　In　the　second　part　of　this　paper,　the　applicability　evaluation　index　is　established　for　the　first　time　to　evaluate　the　critical　condition　for　the　application　of　analytical　solution.　Then,　the　applicability　function　is　obtained　by　fitting　the　relationships　between　the　critical　condition　and　the　flexibility　ratios,　which　can　be　convenient　to　calculate　the　critical　condition　for　the　application　of　analytical　solutions　in　engineering.　Finally,　the　applicability　of　analytical　solution　in　some　engineering　projects　is　correctly　evaluated　based　on　the　proposed　applicability　evaluation　index　and　applicability　function.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd