This　research　introduces　the　recentering　energy　dissipation　bracing　with　a　pendulum　in　prefabricated　steel　frame　(REBP-PSF)　structures.　The　primary　objective　of　this　study　is　to　mitigate　potential　severe　damage　to　steel　frames　during　seismic　events　and　to　expedite　postearthquake　rehabilitation.　This　innovative　system　harnesses　energy　dissipation　through　friction　between　structural　members　and　facilitates　recentering　through　the　cable　pretensioning　force.　Consequently,　this　may　make　postearthquake　repairs　minimal　or　even　unnecessary.　Three　REBP-PSF　structures　and　a　prefabricated　steel　frame　with　cantilever　beam　splices　(PSF-CBS)　were　meticulously　modeled　using　the　ABAQUS　finite　element　method　to　evaluate　the　seismic　performance　of　this　novel　system.　The　study　investigated　the　effects　of　pretensioning　parameters　and　varied　structural　morphologies　on　seismic　performance　metrics,　including　failure　modes,　hysteresis　performance,　energy　dissipation　capacity,　and　residual　displacements.　This　paper　introduced　a　simplified　method　to　simulate　the　restoring　force　model　of　REBP　using　the　connection　element　method.　Subsequently,　a　model　for　the　REBP-RSF　overall　structure　was　established,　enabling　nonlinear　dynamic　time-history　analysis,　which　was　then　compared　with　the　rigid　steel　frame　(RSF)　structure.　The　results　showed　that　the　REBP-PSF　structure　outperformed　the　PSF-CBS　in　terms　of　initial　stiffness,　yield　load,　ultimate　load,　and　energy　dissipation　capability.　The　bearing　and　energy　dissipation　capacities　of　the　REBP-PSF　structure　were　enhanced　by　augmenting　the　cable　pretensioning　force　within　this　structure.　The　proposed　connection　element　method　could　accurately　simulate　the　hysteretic　behavior　of　REBP.　Compared　with　the　RSF　structure,　the　REBP-RSF　demonstrated　superior　seismic　performance,　characterized　by　small　story　drift　and　residual　displacements　during　seismic　activities.　Furthermore,　a　notable　augmentation　was　observed　in　the　lateral　stiffness　and　torsional　rigidity　of　the　proposed　structure.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd