This　study　presents　theoretical　analysis　and　numerical　simulations　on　the　peak　floor　accelerations　(PFAs)　of　self-centering　concentrically　braced　frames　(CBFs),　considering　it　is　a　pressing　need　for　estimating　both　structural　and　nonstructural　damages.　In　the　first　part,　two-degree-of-freedom　(2DOF)　systems　with　two　flag-shaped　springs　are　employed　to　elucidate　the　fundamental　characteristics　of　accelerations.　Grounded　in　structural　dynamics,　analytical　equations　are　derived　to　qualitatively　estimate　peak　accelerations　of　2DOF　systems.　In　the　second　part,　the　multi-story　self-centering　CBFs　with　four　different　story　numbers　are　designed,　based　on　the　premise　that　they　attain　the　same　peak　interstory　drift　ratio　under　the　design　basis　earthquakes.　In　the　nonlinear　time　history　analysis　(NLTHA),　three　suites　of　earthquake　ground　motions　associated　with　three　seismic　hazard　levels　are　employed　to　excite　the　structures　into　different　degrees　of　nonlinearity.　The　NLTHA　results　demonstrate　that　the　proposed　analytical　equations　effectively　explain　the　trends　of　PFAs　in　the　self-centering　CBFs.　Furthermore,　both　the　2DOF　analysis　and　seismic　analysis　of　the　buildings　suggest　that　the　increase　of　hysteretic　parameters　of　braces　could　decrease　PFAs.　Notably,　the　PFAs　are　typically　higher　at　the　middle　of　the　building　than　at　the　lower　or　upper　stories　during　earthquakes.　This　phenomenon　is　elucidated　by　converting　the　multi-story　frames　into　the　equivalent　2DOF　systems,　where　the　equivalent　mass　ratio　increases　and　equivalent　initial　stiffness　ratios　decreases　along　the　structural　height.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd