To　improve　the　performance-based　seismic　design　(PBSD)　method,　it　is　necessary　to　evaluate　the　actual　seismic　damage　state　of　components　and　structures　according　to　the　accurate　seismic　damage　model　or　the　damage　index.　There　are　several　disadvantages　for　current　seismic　damage　models,　such　as　dynamic　mechanism,　threshold　range,　accuracy　and　suitability.　According　to　the　insufficiency　of　the　existing　models,　the　damage　form　and　the　degree　is　supposed　to　has　substantial　connection　with　the　difference　between　the　ideal　elastic　deformation　energy　and　the　actual　elastic-plastic　deformation　energy　from　the　viewpoint　of　energy　dissipation.Thus　the　differential　ratio　can　be　used　to　represent　the　damage　evolution.　The　mechanism　and　the　computational　method　of　the　damage　model　based　on　energy　is　discussed　from　the　viewpoint　of　static　and　dynamic　energy　dissipation,　respectively.　The　damage　evolution　method　based　on　differential　ratio　of　elastic　plastic　dissipated　energy　is　proposed,　and　the　ideal　elasticity　energy　and　the　overall　initial　yield　time　is　obtained　by　multiple　elastic-plastic　dynamic　time-history　analysis.　Through　the　comparison　of　the　characteristics　and　shortcomings　among　various　models,　the　advantages　of　the　proposed　model　is　discussed　and　demonstrated.　The　range　of　energy　damage　index　for　different　damage　gradeis　defined.　Finally,　the　accuracy,　universality　and　feasibility　of　the　energy　model　are　verified　by　the　static　and　dynamic　inelastic　analysis　of　reinforced　concrete　shear　wall　and　frame　structures.　©　2018,　Nanjing　Univ.　of　Aeronautics　an　Astronautics.　All　right　reserved.