As　the　deflection　of　a　buried　beam　subjected　to　ground　settlement　is　not　consistent　with　the　ground　displacement,　an　analytical　model　is　introduced　in　this　study　for　a　buried　beam　on　a　tensionless　foundation　subjected　to　differential　settlement.　The　buried　beam　is　divided　into　three　segments:　the　left　semi-infinite　foundation　beam,　the　right　semi-infinite　foundation　beam,　and　the　middle　finite　beam　separated　from　the　ground.　Based　on　the　theory　of　semi-infinite　foundation　beams,　equations　for　the　response　of　left　and　right　semi-infinite　segment　beams　are　given.　Explicit　equations　are　proposed　for　the　response　of　the　middle　segment　beam;　these　are　combined　with　the　continuous　conditions　at　the　segment　junctions,　and　the　physical　implications　of　the　equation　parameters　are　illustrated.　The　analytical　approach　taken　in　this　study　is　then　compared　with,　and　verified　against,　the　methods　used　in　the　existing　literature.　The　mechanical　state　of　a　buried　beam　subjected　to　ground　settlement　is　closely　related　to　the　foundation　stiffness　factor,　the　flexural　stiffness　of　the　beam,　the　characteristics　of　the　ground　settlement,　and　the　vertical　earth　pressure.　When　the　deformation　coefficient　is　relatively　large　or　ground　settlement　is　relatively　narrow,　the　buried　beam　may　be　in　the　partial　contacting　state.　With　an　increase　in　the　width　and　amplitude　of　ground　settlement　curve,　the　foundation　stiffness　factor,　and　the　different　vertical　earth　pressure　between　the　ground　settlement　and　non-settlement　areas,　the　bending　moment　and　shearing　force　of　buried　beams　increase.　©　2020　Elsevier　Inc.