Shaking　table　tests　were　performed　to　investigate　the　damage　mechanisms　of　a　subway　structure　in　soft　soil　while　experiencing　strong　ground　motions.　The　seismic　responses　of　the　structure　and　soil　were　found　to　be　more　sensitive　to　input　motions　with　richer　low-frequency　components.　The　excess　pore　pressure　ratio　of　soil　increased　slightly,　and　the　distribution　of　the　excess　pore　pressure　surrounding　the　structure　showed　clear　spatial　effects.　The　frequency　spectrum　characteristics　of　input　ground　motions　clearly　influenced　the　lateral　displacement　of　the　structure.　In　addition,　the　structure　was　most　severely　damaged　at　the　top　or　the　bottom　of　the　interior　columns.　Finite　element　analyses　were　conducted　by　using　the　modified　Martin-Seed-Davidenkov　viscoelastic　and　the　rate-independent　plastic-damage　constitutive　models　for　soil　and　concrete,　respectively.　Satisfactory　agreement　was　observed　between　the　simulation　and　test　results,　the　difference　between　these　results　was　discussed　in　detail.　The　results　provide　insight　into　how　the　characteristics　of　strong　ground　motion　might　influence　and　present　a　simplified　analysis　method　to　quantitatively　evaluate　the　damage　of　subway　structures　in　soft　soil.　©　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.