The　research　on　the　response　of　the　tunnel　crossing　fault　zone　is　critical　for　the　preliminary　design　of　the　tunnel.　This　paper　proposes　a　coupled　model　of　the　tunnel　and　ground　system　by　thin　layer　method　with　considering　the　tangential　interaction　to　evaluate　the　tunnel＇s　response　under　the　fault　zone　creeping.　First,　thin　layer　method　is　used　to　obtain　the　ground　stiffness　matrix　to　overcome　the　limit　of　two-parameter　foundation　models　without　well　considering　interaction　between　the　Winkler　springs.　A　distributed　bending　moment　is　introduced　to　consider　the　tangential　interaction　between　the　tunnel　and　ground.　The　equations　of　the　tunnel-ground　coupled　system　are　derived　by　combining　the　finite-element　model　of　the　beam　element　and　the　ground　stiffness　matrix　by　thin　layer　method.　The　normal　force　and　distributed　bending　moment　from　the　deformation　of　the　free　field　are　input　on　the　coupled　system　to　analyze　the　tunnel　response.　The　proposed　method　has　a　full　consideration　for　the　normal　and　tangential　interaction　between　the　ground　and　tunnel.　The　efficiency　of　the　proposed　method　is　verified　by　three-dimensional　finite　element　numerical　results.　Finally,　on　the　basis　of　the　proposed　method,　the　parameter　analysis　is　conducted　to　evaluate　the　effect　of　the　width,　displacement　modes　and　the　elastic　modulus　of　the　fault　zone,　as　well　as　the　lining　thickness　on　tunnel　responses.