It is necessary to simplify the capacity spectrum into bilinear form so as to get characteristic point of hysteretic bone curve(especially the yield point and the yielded stiffness),ductility and equivalent damping of the structure.Three general methods of calculating yield point and yielded stiffness of equivalent SDOF are introduced and the yield point and the yielded stiffness of three frame structures are compared using above given methods in this paper.The hysteretic bone curves of equivalent SDOF are decided by the equivalent yield force and displacement,the maximum plastic displacements of equivalent SDOF under rare earthquake are calculated,and it is compared with the maximum plastic displacements of member structures using nonlinear dynamic analysis.Finally,the advice of simplifying capacity spectrum is advanced.