This paper focuses on the total earthquake damage suffered during a building lifetime and evaluates the overall building performance. The ratio of damage cost is obtainable by setting a function of the response of the building which affects damage. (1) The damage cost ratio of structural members is considered to depend on the amount of energy absorbed by the members. (2) The damage cost ratio to nonstructural members is assumed to depend on story deformation angles. (3) The damage cost ratio to the building contents is defined by the minimum response acceleration necessary to topple them and the response velocity.
