In　current　engineering　practice,　artificial　earthquake　accelerograms　are　widely　used　in　the　seismic　design　of　new　dams.　This　study　aims　to　investigate　the　seismic　response　and　damage　sensitivity　of　arch　dams　to　artificial　ground　motions.　A　total　of　32　accelerograms　are　artificially　synthesized　based　on　the　design　acceleration　response　spectrum.　The　nonlinear　dynamic　response　of　the　Dagangshan　Dam,　an　arch　dam　in　Southwest　China,　to　these　artificial　accelerograms　is　investigated.　Dynamic　response,　including　displacement　and　joint　opening,　and　damage　distribution　are　statistically　analyzed.　Results　show　that　the　seismic　response　and　damage　to　a　dam　may　significantly　scatter　for　various　accelerograms,　even　if　the　artificial　accelerograms　have　the　same　response　spectra,　peak　ground　accelerations,　velocities,　and　displacements.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.