Steel　cable　with　its　superior　performance　is　used　in　steel　structure　as　a　brace.　An　X-deployed　cable-braced　bolt-assembly　steel　frame　(CBBSF)　was　proposed.　The　seismic　behaviors　of　an　unbraced　moment-resisting　bolted　steel　frame　(BSF)　and　four　pairs　of　CBBSFs　were　tested　and　analyzed　by　the　finite-element　model　under　cyclic　load.　The　steel　frames　of　CBBSF　arc　the　same,　while　the　cables　have　the　same　sectional　area　in　each　pair　and　have　varying　sectional　areas　between　different　pairs.　In　each　pair　of　CBBSF　including　CBBSF-F　and　CBBSF-W,　the　cables　of　CBBSF-F　are　pre-slacked,　while　the　cables　of　CBBSF-W　are　not　pre-tensioned　or　pre-relaxed.　A　formula　for　the　lateral　stiffness　of　the　CBBSF　was　proposed.　The　hysteresis　performance,　strength,　ductility,　stiffness,　self-centering　capability,　and　failure　mode　of　the　CBBSFs　were　obtained　and　compared　with　each　other　and　with　the　BSF.　The　influence　of　the　cable　sectional　area　and　pre-slack　on　these　behaviors　was　obtained.　It　was　found　that　CBBSFs　exhibit　reasonable　hysteresis　performance,　energy　dissipation　capacity,　self-centering　capability,　and　have　large　stiffness　and　strength.　The　hysteretic　performance　and　energy　dissipation　capacity　of　CBBSF　is　better　than　BSF.　The　CBBSF　with　a　larger　cable　sectional　area　has　better　self-centering　capability.　The　energy　dissipation　capacity　and　ductility　increased　initial　ly　with　the　increase　of　cable　sectional　area,　then,　followed　by　a　subsequent　decrease.　The　cable　pre-relaxation　decreased　the　maximum　cable　force　to　avoid　break,　increased　the　yield　displacement,　ultimate　displacement,　and　ductility　of　CBBSF,　and　slightly　decreased　the　yield　and　ultimate　strength.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.