ABSTRACT. Earthquake shaking represents complex loading to the structure. It cannot be accurately characterized by a single parameter, e.g. peak ground acceleration. The goal of this work is to compare the role of various strong-motion parameters on the induced damage in the structure through numerical calculations. To this end, a robust structural model that can perform several dynamic calculations, with an acceptable cost, is required. The developed methodology is based on the use of structural elements with nonlinear behaviour of damage mechanics and plasticity type. The damage level of a typical reinforced concrete structure is evaluated by the use of nonlinear numerical calculations. The effect of numerous ground-motion parameters on the computed damage is analyzed and discussed. A set of weakly-correlated parameters are chosen that characterize different aspects of the shaking. Natural accelerograms were chosen based on a consideration of the magnitude-distance ranges of design earthquakes. It is expected that an increase from one to two or three groundmotion parameters would lead to a significant reduction in the scatter in the fragility curve, which when more than one parameter is used will be a surface. RESUME. Le mouvement sismique applique un chargement complexe aux structures. Un seul parametre, e.g. " PGA ", ne peut pas caracteriser correctement ce chargement. L'objectif de ce travail est d'evaluer le role de plusieurs parametres caracterisant un seisme sur le niveau de degradation des structures. Pour y parvenir, il est essentiel de disposer de modeles fiables et robustes nous permettant de realiser plusieurs calculs de structures avec un cout limite. La methodologie developpee s'appuie sur l'emploi d'elements de structure capables de tirer profit des lois de comportement non-lineaires de type mecanique de l'endommagement et plasticite. Les simulations sont realisees a l'aide d'accelerogrammes naturels ayant des caracteristiques variees et imposees suivant les trois directions de l'espace. Ces etudes permettent d'estimer les niveaux d'endommagement des structures en beton arme pour differentes intensites de l'action sismique. Lors des simulations E.F. realisees sur un modele d'un bâtiment R+7 les effets de plusieurs parametres du mouvement sismique sur l'endommagement ont ete analyses. Grâce a deux ou trois parametres caracterisant l'action sismique, nous esperons diminuer significativement la dispersion des resultats des etudes de vulnerabilite sismique du bâti.