The　similarity　degree　of　different　signals　can　be　accurately　calculated　by　a　dynamic　time　warping　(DTW)　algorithm,　so　it　can　be　applied　in　waveform　comparison　and　similarity　evaluation.　To　overcome　the　deficiencies　of　traditional　seismic　wave　shape　comparison　and　performance　evaluation　methods,　the　earthquake　waveform　identification　and　ground　motion　characteristics　analysis　method　based　on　DTW　distance　was　proposed.　According　to　the　statistical　analysis　of　a　large　number　of　earthquake　waves,　the　variation　law　of　DTW　distance　considering　amplitude,　time　difference,　noise　to　signal　ratio　and　the　synthetic　effect　of　time　difference　and　noise　was　obtained.　It　is　proved　that　the　DTW　distance　can　be　used　as　the　evaluation　standard　of　waveform　precision.　It　was　demonstrated　that　DTW　distance　and　vector　norm　is　in　essence　equivalent,　and　DTW　distance　is　closely　related　to　the　equivalent　amplitude　and　energy　of　earthquake　waves.　The　physical　meaning　of　DTW　distance　was　verified　by　analyzing　the　data　of　the　array　ground　motion,　and　the　results　show　that　DTW　distance　distribution　can　accurately　represent　the　time　and　space　variation　effect　of　regional　seismic　motion.　The　reference　range　of　DTW　distance　was　determined　by　statistical　analysis,　and　it　can　be　used　as　the　accuracy　evaluation　criterion　of　synthetic　multi-point　earthquake　wave,　and　the　optimal　synthesis　scheme　of　artificial　wave　with　more　actual　characteristic　was　obtained.　Based　on　the　variation　law　of　DTW　distance,　the　synthetic　accuracy　evaluation,　optimization　and　selection　of　artificial　earthquake　wave　with　spatial　variation　effect　can　be　realized.　©　2018,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Vibration　and　Shock.　All　right　reserved.