To investigate tunnel vertical earth pressure caused by surface surcharge

a finite element model is established based on the measured results of tunnel structure deformation and earth pressure of indoor model test. The developed model is used to analyze the influence of the compressibility of soil layers acrossed by tunnel and soil layers overlaying on tunnel on tunnel structure deformation and surrounding soil pressure under surface surcharge. The results show

the compressibility of soil acrossed by tunnel is smaller

the vertical earth pressure on the tunnel caused by surface surcharge is greater

the corresponding tunnel lateral earth pressure is smaller

which is more likely to cause lateral elliptical deformation in the tunnel structure. The lower the compressibility of tunnel overlaying soil is

the lower the surface surcharge-induced vertical earth pressure on the tunnel is

the smaller the deformation of tunnel structure is. The vertical earth pressure of the tunnel caused by surface pile soil(surcharge) is greater than that calculated by the theory of soil column. Thesis results can provide some references for the design and operational phase control of subway shield tunnel in soft clay.