This paper suggests a new connection protocol, adding cover-plate between shear links and column, which was used to enhance moment and shear carrying capacity of beam, relax the restriction and assure the sufficiency development of plastic deformation of the link, and dissipate more earthquake energy. Considering the scale ratio of 1:3, the experimental data was achieved by a specimen under cyclic loading, which was verified by nonlinear finite element analyses. Results indicate that the new type of eccentrically braced steel frame have enough stiffness and deformation capacity, draw link away from flange of column, and dissipate more earthquake energy. The single diagonal eccentrically braced frames adopted adding cover-plate protocol will ensure sufficient lateral stiffness under ordinary circumstances, including lateral loads due to wind and moderate seismic disturbances, have preferable resisting seismic behavior under rare earthquake, and be so practical and costly that it can be easily applied in present project.
