Abstract : When a water-rich karst cavity exists in front of the tunnel face, the thickness of the anti-inrushing rock mass between the tunnel face and the water-rich karst cavity will gradually decrease as the excavation of the tunnel progresses. Once the thickness of the anti-inrushing rock mass reaches the limit, the water inrush disaster will occur. An accurate prediction of the minimum safe thickness of the anti-inrushing structure can effectively avoid the occurrence of water inrush disaster in karst