The main purpose of this study was to determine whether the inelastic moment-rotation character-istics defined by the lower-bound curve permit economical ALFD for noncompact plate gilders. The study was also intended to determine the benefits of improving the moment-rotation to illustrate the ar plication of the ALFD to noncompact plate girders and to show the Influence of various parameters on the design process. To accomplish these objectives, 34 preliminary designs were made by ALFD or LFD or WSD. In the study, this method of analysis is described first. Next, the design procedures are described. Finally, the resulting designs are presented and discussed.