Traditional　metal　dampers　have　disadvantages　such　as　a　higher　yield　point　and　inadequate　adjustability.　The　experimental　results　show　that　the　low　yield　point　steel　has　superior　energy　dissipation　hysteretic　capacity　and　can　be　applied　to　seismic　structures.　To　overcome　these　deficiencies,　a　novel　compound　metal　damper　comprising　both　low　yield　point　steel　plates　and　common　steel　plates　is　presented.　The　optimization　objectives,　including　＂maximum　rigidity　＂　and　＂full　stress　state　＂,　are　proposed　to　obtain　the　optimal　edge　shape　of　a　compound　metal　damper.　The　numerical　results　show　that　the　optimized　composite　metal　damper　has　the　advantages　such　as　full　hysteresis　curve,　uniform　stress　distribution,　more　sufficient　energy　consumption,　and　it　can　adjust　the　yield　strength　of　the　damper　according　to　the　engineering　requirements.　In　view　of　the　mechanical　characteristics　of　the　compound　metal　damper,　the　equivalent　model　of　eccentric　cross　bracing　is　established,　and　the　approximate　analytical　solution　of　the　yield　strength　and　the　yield　displacement　is　proposed.　A　nonlinear　simulation　analysis　is　carried　out　for　the　overall　aseismic　capacity　of　three-layer-frame　structures　with　a　compound　metal　damper.　It　is　verified　that　a　compound　metal　damper　has　better　energy　dissipation　capacity　and　superior　seismic　performance,　especially　for　a　damper　with　double-objective　optimized　shape.