Ground　motion　intensity　measure　(IM)　is　a　key　link　between　the　seismic　hazard　analysis　and　structural　seismic　response　analysis,　which　play　an　important　role　in　the　performance-based　earthquake　engineering　framework.　In　order　to　find　suitable　IM　for　seismic　response　evaluation　of　circular　tunnel,　nonlinear　dynamic　time-history　analyses　are　conducted　on　a　two-dimensional　finite　element　model　of　tunnel-surrounding　rock　interaction　in　this　study.　The　near　field　ground　motions　without　velocity　pulse　and　far　field　ground　motions　as　recommended　by　FEMA-P695　are　used　as　the　input　ground　motions　for　the　numerical　model.　Besides,　the　overall　lining　damage　indices　in　compression　and　in　tension　are　used　as　engineering　damage　measures　(DMs)　to　estimate　the　lining　damage　state.　The　applicability　of　20　existing　ground　motion　IMs　commonly　used　in　engineering　practice　are　investigated　in　this　study.　Statistically　regression　analysis　is　carried　out　for　results　obtained　from　nonlinear　time-history　analyses.　Based　on　the　criteria　of　efficiency　and　sufficiency,　Arias　intensity　is　identified　as　the　optimal　IM　for　seismic　response　prediction　of　circular　tunnel　structure.　©　2020　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.