Abstract: The seismic response characteristics of underground structures have a strong sensitivity to stratum characteristics. A structural dynamic time history analysis method for silty clay tunnels is proposed based on the shaking the table model tests. The response displacement method suitable for seismic calculation of tunnel structures in silty clay is determined. The results show that the bending moment calculated by the empirical formula is closer that by the dynamic time history method, while the axial force of tunnel structures calculated by the finite element method is closer to that by the dynamic time history method. It is suggested that in the seismic calculation of silty clay tunnel structures, the relative displacement of the soil layer within the buried depth of the tunnel should be simplified to linear change and multiplied by a coefficient of 0.7, and the foundation spring stiffness shouldbe multiplied by a coefficient of 1.1. The conclusions may provide a reference for the seismic design of silty clay tunnels.