A　series　of　dynamic　centrifuge　tests　were　performed　to　analyse　the　seismic　response　and　failure　mechanism　of　the　underground　frame　structures.　In　the　model　test,　the　model　structure　experienced　complete　collapse,　which　has　rarely　been　reported　in　previous　studies.　This　study　aimed　to　obtain　an　effective　numerical　model　based　on　physical　tests　that　could　properly　simulate　large　deformations　or　even　the　collapse　of　soil-structure　systems　under　earthquake　loads.　The　tests　were　numerically　analysed　via　a　full　dynamic　time　history　analysis　considering　the　non-linear　properties　of　the　material　and　contact.　The　process　of　establishing　numerical　model　and　the　method　of　determining　material　parameters　were　elaborated.　The　numerical　results　were　compared　to　experimental　data　to　validate　the　effectiveness　of　the　numerical　model.　Finally,　the　calibrated　numerical　model　was　used　to　carry　out　further　research　on　the　seismic　damage　response　and　failure　mechanism　(i.e.,　collapse　damage)　of　underground　structures.　Some　of　most　important　insights　based　on　the　model　test　and　numerical　results　are　as　follows.　The　top　and　bottom　of　the　column　of　underground　frame　structure　were　determined　to　be　the　weakest　positions　under　earthquake　loading　conditions　and　were　vulnerable　to　bending-shearing　failure.　The　vertical　earthquake　load　could　significantly　increase　the　axial　forces　on　the　columns　and　then　reduce　their　horizontal　deformation　capacity.　The　columns　subjected　to　high　axial　compression　were　prone　to　complete　brittle　failure　under　a　relatively　strong　horizontal　earthquake　load　and　caused　the　overall　collapse　of　the　underground　frame　structure.　Therefore,　the　underground　frame　structure　could　avoid　complete　collapse　under　a　strong　earthquake　load　as　long　as　the　column　was　free　from　damage　and　provided　sufficient　vertical　support.