Abstract: To optimize the theoretical flow of studying the damage quantification of reinforced concrete members under earthquake actions, and to establish a reasonable calculation method of energy dissipation capacity, a decay model of energy dissipation capacity in the subsequent hysteretic stage is proposed based on the decay law of energy dissipation capacity of RC members in the initial hysteretic stage after studying the shape characteristics of D-n curves of the same type of specimens with equal loading displacement in different hysteretic stages. By fitting and analyzing the attenuation exponents in different hysteretic stages, the modified formulas of characteristic parameters A, B, x₀, y₀ in the calculation method of energy dissipation capacity are proposed, and the calculation method after optimization is better than that before optimization. Its accuracy and stability have been improved. For the energy dissipation estimation of 80 flexural failure specimens selected from PEER database, this method also shows good accuracy and applicability.