This　study　presents　a　new　type　of　self-centering　damper,　termed　the　double-stage　shape　memory　alloy　(SMA)　slip　friction　damper,　which　mainly　comprises　of　the　grooved　center　and　cap　plates,　stacked　disc　springs,　and　SMA　bars.　The　double-stage　behavior　is　realized　by　the　serial　connection　of　the　stacked　disc　springs　and　the　SMA　bars,　with　the　purposes　of　adjusting　stiffness　and　damping　for　varied　seismic　hazard　levels.　The　configuration　and　working　mechanism　are　firstly　presented,　along　with　the　analytical　equations　governing　the　force-displacement　relationship.　As　the　key　components,　the　SMA　bar,　the　friction　mechanism,　and　the　disc　springs　were　tested　separately.　And　then,　the　proof-of-concept　tests　of　the　reduced-scale　damper　were　conducted.　From　the　testing　results,　the　damper　exhibited　a　symmetric　double-stage　self-centering　damping　behavior.　Some　hysteretic　parameters　of　interest　were　then　quantified.　Three-dimensional　numerical　models　were　established　and　were　further　used　for　parametric　analysis.　Both　the　analytical　method　and　numerical　model　agree　well　with　the　experimental　data.　©　2023