Abstract: Tunnel roof stability has always been a key issue in tunnelling and underground engineering. To clarify the influence of burial depth ratio and geological strength parameters on the stability and potential collapse range of tunnel roofs, the collapse mechanisms for tunnel roof in rock strata with different cross-section types are constructed based on the Generalized Hoek-Brown (GHB) strength criterion. Various objectives describing the stability of the tunnel roof were derived by solving the energy balance equation. The limit burial-depth ratios for the collapse mechanism between shallow and deep-buried tunnels were determined. The research results show that an increase in the geological strength index (GSI) can significantly improve the stability of the tunnel roof, while the effect of the parameter m_i on tunnel roof stability needs to be determined in combination with the burial-depth ratio (H/R) and other geological strength parameters. Unlike the rectangular tunnels, the increase in the burial-depth ratio will initially decrease, then increase the stability of a circular tunnel roof, reaching a stable state eventually. The limit burial depth ratio decreases continuously with an increase in the geological strength parameter m_i, while decreases and then increases with an increase in GSI. Circular tunnels are more likely to form a complete collapse roof compared with a rectangular tunnels. The findings of this work can provide a reference for preliminary design of tunnel engineering.