A condensed step by step summary of the application of a recently published capacity design philosophy, as applied to earthquake resisting ductile reinforced concrete frames, is presented. The theoretical inelastic dynamic response of three prototype frames, so designed and subjected to particularly severe seismic excitations, is then reported. It is shown how the predicted maximum actions compare with those used in the design. The design quantities, derived from a modified conventional elastic frame analysis for a code specified lateral static loading, were found to ensure
a very high degree of, and yet economical and practical, protection against hinging in columns at and above the first floor.