Abstract: A strong-column weak beam global seismic failure mode control-based design approach is developed for reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures. Based on the concept of energy balance and plastic internal force mechanism, a modified energy balance equation and design method for plastic internal forces are proposed to achieve the seismic design of structures with different hysteretic behaviour for multiple different seismic hazard levels. Four RC frame structures with different geometry configurations are designed and the distribution of strong-column weak-beam ratio along the height is investigated. Pushover analyses and nonlinear time history analyses under 22 ground motions for severe seismic hazard level are conducted, and the global capacity curves, yield mechanism, maximum inter-story drift ratio distribution as well as the moment demands of column ends are studied. The analytical results indicate that the proposed method can achieve the desired seismic performance and global failure mode without any iterations, avoiding the shortcoming of conventional seismic design method which employs the trial an error strategy to achieve the required seismic performance.