Abstract：Emphasizing the importance of research on seismic response of shield tunnel and depicting its extinct features during earthquake，different traditional antiseismic analysis methods for shield tunnel are discussed with the merits and demerits pointed out by comparison. Then，aiming at a newly-built shield tunnel in Shanghai，a three-dimensional numerical simulation method for large-scale seismic response of shield tunnel is proposed with the character of fully emulating to the reality. Firstly，some basic and crucial theories and methods are introduced，including explicit finite element algorithm，time step control，hourglass control and dynamic relaxation. The three-dimensional analytical object is constructed from geometrical model to finite element model，which consists of surrounding soil，shield tunnel，connecting passages and many other objects with the total number of nodes and elements 4 million respectively. This model takes nonlinear behaviors of soil and contact interface between soil and tunnel into account；and the contact interfaces between lining segments are also considered. Final calculation is successfully completed on a high-performance computer. According to the calculation results，the whole tendency of shield tunnel reflecting heave and settlement are achieved，which reveals the interaction and distortion of the foundation soil-shield tunnel system under seismic loading. Besides，both the stress in lining segments and axial force in connecting bolts are investigated and analyzed respectively；and typical curves of force or stress variation with time are selected and illustrated in detail. Also，the stress distributions on the connecting passages and lining segments are shown；and corresponding weak zones are indicated consequently. In a word，it provides a practical method and meaningful data for the further research on aseismic design and research of shield tunnel.
