Abstract: Through an improvement on calculation of the equivalent stiffness for an equivalent single- degree-of-freedom system in the traditional direct displacement-based seismic design (DDBD) method, the uncertainties which impact the accuracy of the equivalent stiffness are reduced. Also the validity of DDBD method is advanced, when it is applied in the seismic design of prestressed concrete frame (PCF) structures. According to the crack control and strong column weak beam requirements, four different PCF structures were designed using the above method. The pushover analysis results show that the structural displacements on performance points are satisfied and the design method is effective, but the crack control, the degree of prestressing, reinforcements of columns, strong column weak beam and other details of seismic design requirements could cause the bearing capacity of frame structures to be excessively high under design earthquakes. At the same time, it could cause the displacement corresponding to the performance points less than the target displacement too.