Previous　researches　have　showed　that　the　columns　under　different　axial　compression　ratios　performed　different　lateral　deformation　capacities,　which　is　the　key　factor　of　aseismic　performance　of　the　shallow-buried　subway　frame　structures.　In　this　study,　dynamic　centrifuge　model　tests　on　earthquake　damage　to　underground　structure　are　carried　out.　The　model　tests　aim　to　shed　lights　on　the　effect　of　the　increased　axial　compression　ratio　of　column,　which　is　induced　by　the　vertical　earthquake　excitation,　on　earthquake　damage　responses　of　shallow-buried　underground　frame　structures.　To　simulate　the　effect　of　vertical　inertia　force　of　overburden　soil,　the　steel　grits　are　mixed　into　the　overburden　soil　layer.　Test　results　indicate　that　the　way　of　mixing　the　steel　grits　into　the　overburden　soil　layer　has　little　influence　on　dynamic　characteristics　of　soil-structure　system　and　relative　horizontal　displacement　between　ceiling　slab　and　bottom　slab　due　to　seismic　excitation.　The　increased　vertical　inertia　force　of　overburden　soil　significantly　changes　the　contact　pressure　distribution　between　underground　structure　and　surrounding　soil,　and　the　stress　states　of　structural　member　are　changed　accordingly,　leading　to　the　increase　of　axial　compression　ratio　of　the　key　vertical　load　bearing　column　in　the　underground　frame　structure.　Consequently,　increasing　vertical　inertia　force　of　overburden　soil　effectively　increases　the　stresses　of　the　structural　frame　and　axial　compression　ratio　of　middle　columns,　so　that　the　underground　frame　structure　is　more　susceptible　to　seismic　damage.　©　2019,　Editorial　Office　of　China　Civil　Engineering　Journal.　All　right　reserved.