In　recent　years,　seismic　disasters　have　emerged　as　a　significant　threat　to　the　safety　of　structures　and　the　well-being　of　individuals.　Stainless　steel,　owing　to　its　exceptional　ductility,　is　attracting　attention　for　its　potential　use　in　seismic　resilient　buildings　and　infrastructures.　However,　current　research　on　the　seismic　performance　and　design　methods　of　stainless　steel　frames　is　limited.　Therefore,　this　paper　reports　two　cyclic　loading　tests　on　austenitic　stainless　steel　full-scale　frames　with　extended　end-plate　joints　and　bolt-welded　joints,　investigates　the　seismic　response　of　components　and　provides　experimental　data　for　further　development　of　seismic　design　methods　for　stainless　steel　structures.　The　cyclic　loading　test　results　for　components,　including　the　internal　forces　of　beams　and　columns　and　the　hysteresis　behaviour,　energy　dissipation　capability,　deformation　capacity,　and　stiffness　of　joints,　were　discussed　in　detail.　On　the　basis　of　the　experimental　results,　the　applicability　of　existing　calculation　methods　for　the　stiffness　of　stainless　steel　semi-rigid　joints　was　evaluated.　Moreover,　the　components　of　the　story　drift　ratio　of　beams,　columns,　and　joints,　as　well　as　their　respective　contributions　to　the　inter-story　deformation　of　the　frame　during　cyclic　loading　were　calculated　and　analysed.　Furthermore,　the　sequence　of　plastic　development　in　the　frame　during　the　loading　process　was　determined　through　component　response　analyses　of　beams,　columns　and　joints.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd