The influence of forepoles on the patterns of a single tunnel plastic collapse was discussed using Acutronic 661. A series of plane strain centrifuge model tests in over-consolidated clay were conducted. Tests were carried out in a circular cavity with stiff resin inclusions embedded around the tunnel vault. These inclusions simulated elements of a secant pipe or forepole arch system. An image processing system was used to measure displacements below surface level and displacement transducers at the surface level of the models. The aim of the experimental work was to study the ground response due to simulated tunnel construction and to analyse how the vault stiff inclusions affect tunnel stability. According to the principle of the upper bound theorem of plastic limit analysis, a collapse mechanism of the single circular tunnels with embedded forepoles in cohesive soil was established. An upper bound equation of stability ratio was obtained. The upper bound solutions of stability ratio under different soil cover above the tunnel, undrained shear strength at tunnel axis level and embedded forepoles range were discussed from the equation. In the end，the correctness of the upper bound solutions was proved by the results of centrifugal model tests.