中文摘要：

震害指数是我国科学家提出的衡量震害大小的量化指标，这一指标及其评定方法被中国地震烈度表采用并在多次破坏性地震震害调查评价中使用。实践证明，这一方法从统计意义上看对震害的评定更具合理性，在震害调查中应加以继承、发扬和发展。介绍了震害指数产生的历史背景；详细地阐述了如何依据现场的宏观标志来确定结构的破坏程度以及如何给出评定区的震害指数等若干技术问题。对震害指数调查中应注意的问题进行了总结。讨论了随着科学技术和工程建设发展，震害指数评定方法应注意的问题。对了解震害指数评定方法的历史并推动其在震害评定中进一步发挥作用有一定的意义。

英文摘要：

Seismic damage index proposed by Chinese scientists is used to quantitatize the extent of damage. The index and its evaluation methods are adopted in Chinese Seismic Intensity Sale and have been used in the multiple destructive seismic damage investigation. The practice proves that this method is rational in the statistical signifi- cance, and should be inherited and developed in the seismic damage investigation. This article introduced the his- torical background of the seismic damage index, elaborated certain technical questions in how to determine the structural destructiveness and gave the seismic damage index of evaluated zone based on macroscopic sign in detail, summarized the problems about investigation of seismic damage index, and discussed the problems to be paid atten- tion to with the development of science and technology and engineering construction. This article has some signifi- cance in understanding the history of the seismic damage index evaluation method and impelling its usage further in the seismic damage evaluation.