There are two main types of moment frames:
1. Ordinary Moment Frames (OMF)
OMFs have low to moderate levels of strength and stiffness when compared to the other type of moment frames. They are typically used in buildings of less than 300 feet in height and have lower seismic hazards. Under seismic loads, they experience flexural yielding at the columns and the beams and the plastic hinges develop at the ends of the beams. The OMFs have limited ductility, which limits its ability to dissipate energy.
2. Special Moment Frames (SMF)
The SMFs have high strength and stiffness compared to the OMFs. They are typically used in buildings that are over 300 feet in height or located in high seismic hazard areas. Under seismic loads, they experience flexural yielding at the beams and the columns and the plastic hinges develop at the ends of the beams. The SMFs possess higher ductility and can dissipate energy under seismic loading, therefore allowing for a better chance of the building to remain functional even after an earthquake.
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