In　recent　years,　local　component　destruction,　collapse　failure　and　the　control　of　long-span　cable-stayed　bridges　under　strong　multi-support　excitations　have　received　increasing　attention.　In　this　paper,　two　kinds　of　nonlinear　finite　element　(FE)　models　are　established　to　simulate　the　seismic　responses　and　failure　modes　of　a　multi-span　cable-stayed　bridge　scale　model　under　multi-support　excitations.　One　is　the　single　girder　model　which　is　used　to　simulate　the　seismic　response　during　four　wave　excitations.　It　can　be　concluded　that　the　FE　analysis　results　of　the　scale　model　are　a　good　fit　with　those　from　the　shaking　table　tests.　The　other　one　is　the　explicit　dynamic　FE　model　which　is　used　to　simulate　the　collapse　and　failure　mechanisms　of　the　scale　model　during　strong　earthquakes.　The　aggressive　failure　processes　of　the　scale　model　under　two　different　types　of　wave　excitations　were　compared　to　reproduce　the　mechanisms　in　which　the　bearing　at　the　middle　tower　failed　under　the　El　Centro　(EC)　wave　(4.0　m/s(2)),　and　we　also　observed　the　connection　failure　of　the　cables　and　towers,　and　the　elements　failure　of　the　upper　beam　in　the　middle　tower,　which　occurred　successively　under　a　Jiangxin　(JX)　wave　(4.0　m/s(2)).　This　simulation　may　be　referenced　as　the　basis　for　the　collapse　failure　of　a　cable-stayed　bridge　with　a　large　span　during　a　strong　earthquake.