Aiming　at　setting　up　a　dynamic　analytical　model　for　earthquake-induced　damages　with　wider　applicability,　a　reasonable　judgement　method　of　ground　motion　duration　was　presented　based　on　the　rate　of　increment　of　plastic　dissipation　energy　indicator,　which　combined　energy　principle　with　damage　theory.　Utilizing　respectively　the　ideal　elasto-plastic　constitutive　model　and　the　constructive　relationship　between　strain　and　damage,　the　maximum　displacement,　ultimate　load　carrying　capacity,　damage　index,　developmental　proportion　of　plastic　bars,　and　distribution　of　plastic　dissipation　energy　and　so　on　under　different　ground　motion　durations　were　analyzed　through　the　dynamic　increment　analysis　method　for　both　the　hexagonal　domes　and　the　single-layer　latticed　domes.　The　reliability　of　energy　method　was　verified.　The　results　indicate　that　damage　accumulation　effects　on　structures　should　be　taken　into　account　due　to　ground　motion　duration.　If　the　ground　motion　duration　is　shorter,　then　the　structure　may　be　unsafe　due　to　overestimated　load　carrying　capacity　and　underestimated　plastic　development　degree.　Under　the　action　of　rational　ground　motion　duration,　the　structural　global　and　local　plastic　damage　conditions　can　be　scaled　by　the　structural　damage　index　and　plastic　dissipation　energy　indicator　separately.　©　2018,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Building　Structures.　All　right　reserved.