Abstract: In recent years, when shield is tunneling in some large buried-depth and high water pressure sand layers and sandy gravel layers, stratum collapse accidents induced by tunnel water and sand inrush have been reoccurring. Therefore, it is urgent to further explore the disaster mechanism of tunnel water and sand inrush and the damage process of stratum collapse, providing construction guidance for similar projects. Based on existing engineering cases, a visual test device for tunnel water and sand gushing is designed to study the evolution law of soil and water loss quality and seepage damage of stratum. Besides, the influence of compactness of silty fine sand, buried depth of model tunnel, groundwater level and leakage point position are also discussed. The experimental results show that: (1) The disaster can be roughly divided into three stages: water and sand leakage stage, rapid sand gushing stage and water inrush damage stage. What′s more, the dry matter ratio of soil and water loss parameter is proposed as the basis for judging the development stage of tunnel water and sand inrush disaster; (2) The leakage location and groundwater level have great influence on the evolution process of formation seepage failure; (3) It is found that when the leakage spot is below the tunnel, the water and sand inrush disaster is more severe with a smaller silty sand compactness, a shallower tunnel buried depth and a higher water level height, and the water and soil loss mass is greater. It is recommended that during the excavation process of shield tunneling in large buried-depth water rich strata, a good ground reinforcement plan be made, while strengthening the waterproof capacity of the tunnel, especially at the arch bottom of the tunnel.