The　seismic　intensity　measure　(IM)　is　a　key　parameter　affecting　the　accuracy　of　seismic　risk　assessment,　which　plays　an　important　role　in　the　performance-based　earthquake　engineering　framework.　A　reasonable　IM　can　make　the　prediction　of　structural　seismic　responses　more　accurate.　To　study　on　seismic　IMs　which　are　suitable　for　the　damage　evaluation　of　circular　tunnels,　a　two-dimensional　finite　element　model　was　established　for　the　nonlinear　dynamic　time　history　analyses　of　circular　tunnel-surrounding　rock　interaction.　The　near-field　ground　motions　without　velocity　pulses　and　far-field　ground　motions　recommended　by　FEMA-P695　were　used　as　the　input　in　the　numerical　model.　The　overall　lining　damage　indices　in　compression　and　in　tension　were　used　as　the　engineering　damage　measures　to　estimate　the　damage　states　of　the　lining.　The　applicability　of　20　ground　motion　IMs　commonly　used　in　the　engineering　practice　were　investigated.　The　results　show　that　based　on　the　criteria　of　efficiency,　practicality,　proficiency　and　sufficiency,　the　best　seismic　IM　for　the　damage　evaluation　of　circular　tunnels　is　the　sustained　maximum　acceleration　(SMA),　and　the　second　best　is　the　acceleration　spectrum　intensity　(ASI).　Copyright　©2021　Engineering　Mechanics.　All　rights　reserved.