Reinforced concrete special moment frames are used as part of seismic force-resisting systems in buildings that are designed to resist earthquakes. Beams, columns, and beam-column joints in moment frames are proportioned and detailed to resist flexural, axial, and shearing actions that result as a building sways through multiple displacement cycles during strong earthquake ground shaking. Special proportioning and detailing requirements result in a frame capable of resisting strong earthquake shaking without significant loss of stiffness or strength. These moment-resisting frames are called “Special Moment Frames” because of these additional requirements, which improve the seismic resistance in comparison with less stringently detailed Intermediate and Ordinary Moment Frames.