Studies　show　that　lining　cracks　are　one　of　the　most　common　anomalies　that　occur　in　the　operational　tunnels.　Therefore,　investigating　the　performance　of　the　cracked　linings　is　of　significant　importance　during　the　tunnel　maintenance.　In　the　present　study,　model　tests　and　numerical　simulations　are　performed　to　investigate　the　influence　of　the　longitudinal　cracks　at　the　invert　on　the　mechanical　behavior　of　the　tunnel　linings.　Obtained　results　show　that　(1)　the　pre-existing　cracks　at　the　invert　aggravate　the　crushing　failure　at　the　back　of　the　fracture　zone,　leading　to　the　brittle　instability　of　the　tunnel;　(2)　the　deformation　process　of　the　cracked　tunnels　initially　develops　linearly　up　to　a　drastic　increase.　Moreover,　the　magnitude　and　the　growth　of　the　deformation　at　the　damaged　area　of　cracked　linings　before　the　abrupt　failure　are　larger　than　those　of　the　intact　linings;　(3)　the　cracks　result　in　a　distinct　decrease　in　the　bending　moment　at　the　damaged　area,　whereas　the　thrust　force　is　less　sensitive　to　the　number　of　cracks;　(4)　the　pre-existing　cracks　in　the　invert　weaken　the　lining?s　ability　to　resist　the　pressure　of　surrounding　rock　and　increase　the　share　of　the　arch　foot　in　the　contact　pressure;　(5)　the　pre-existing　cracks　at　the　invert　reduce　the　bearing　area　of　linings,　thereby　weakening　the　flexural　stiffness　and　favoring　the　crushing　failure　at　the　invert,　which　is　the　main　reason　for　the　decrease　in　the　bearing　capacity　of　the　cracked　tunnels.