The　spatial　variability　of　ground　motion　has　a　significant　influence　on　the　seismic　response　of　long　infrastructure　and　is　considered　the　primary　cause　of　pipeline　damage　during　earthquakes.　In　this　study,　a　series　of　three-dimensional　shaking　table　tests　were　carried　out　to　investigate　the　influence　of　non-uniform　seismic　excitation　on　the　pipeline　response　using　a　scaled　pipeline　model　installed　in　sand.　The　pipeline-soil　model　was　enclosed　in　a　suspension　continuum　soil　box　situated　on　three　shaking　tables　that　can　induce　uniform　and　non-uniform　seismic　excitations.　Accelerometers　were　distributed　along　the　soil　profile,　and　strain　gauges　and　accelerometers　were　attached　to　the　pipeline　to　monitor　the　dynamic　response　of　the　pipeline-soil　system　during　the　shaking.　The　pipeline-soil　model　was　subjected　to　a　series　of　uniform　and　non-uniform　excitations　with　gradually　increasing　intensity.　The　testing　results　demonstrated　that　the　pipeline　experienced　tensile　and　compressive　strains　due　to　the　longitudinal　seismic　excitation　because　the　phase　and　waveform　of　the　seismic　waves　were　almost　the　same　at　the　strain　measuring　points　around　the　pipeline　profile.　The　acceleration　response　of　the　pipeline　under　non-uniform　seismic　excitation　was　larger　than　that　of　the　surrounding　soil.　The　pipeline　strain　response　under　non-uniform　seismic　excitation　was　approximately　twice　that　under　uniform　seismic　excitation.　The　soil-pipeline　interaction　exhibited　complex　behavior;　sliding　may　occur　with　the　increase　of　loading　intensity,　and　more　likely　to　occur　under　non-uniform　seismic　excitation.　These　results　indicate　that　the　dynamic　response　of　the　pipeline-soil　system　is　sensitive　to　non-uniform　ground　motion,　which　should　be　properly　considered　in　the　seismic　design　of　pipeline.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd