Abstract: Two typical analysis models for high rise building structures (shear wall structure and frame shear wall structure) were established in this paper. On the premise that the story drift meets the limit values specified in the specifications, the changes in the usage of concrete and steel bars with the characteristic periods of the design ground motions were studied. In addition, keeping the two structural models unchanged, the maximum story drift of the two structural models under different characteristic periods were analyzed, and then the failure states of the two structural models were given. Results show that when the story drift meets the requirements of the specification, the usage of concrete and steel bars in shear wall structures and frame shear wall structures increases with the characteristic period increasing. The larger the characteristic period, the greater the increment of concrete and steel usage. The increment of concrete and steel usage in the frame shear wall structure is smaller than that in the shear wall structure under the same characteristic period appreciation. Increasing the characteristic period will affect the failure states of the structures when the structural models remain unchanged, but mostly in a minor damage state, except for shear wall structure that reaches to moderate damage state at Tg=0.9 s.