The proposed work has the aim to show a practical application of the Theory of Plastic Mechanism Control applied to Moment Resisting Frames with pin-jointed base connections whose traditional dissipative zones, i.e. beam ends, in the framework of supplementary energy dissipation strategies, are substituted by frictional devices. The control of devices activation and, as a consequence, the optimization of energy dissipation capacity is obtained by a rigorous design procedure assuring that only

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... e dissipative zones are involved in plastic range while non dissipative ones remain elastic. It means that a mechanism of global type has to be assured by applying the Theory of Plastic Mechanism Control. In addition, being traditional dissipative zones substituted by frictional devices, column bases pin jointed and column sections designed in order to remain in elastic range by a properly design procedure, the structure can be considered as free from damage. In fact after a destructive seismic event all the damaged devices can be replaced by new ones. The accuracy of the design approach has been investigated by means push-over and non-linear dynamic analyses by applying a properly chosen set of earthquake ground motions.