Miniature　buckling-restrained　braces　(BRBs)　have　a　concise　configuration　and　clear　working　mechanism.　Owing　to　stable　and　full　hysteresis,　miniature　BRBs　are　emerging　as　favorable　energy-dissipating　fuse　elements　in　seismic　applications.　This　paper　proposes　using　iron-shape　memory　alloy　(FeSMA)　in　lieu　of　conventional　steel　as　the　yielding　core　and　focuses　on　the　cyclic　behavior.　Four　specimens,　corresponding　to　four　loading　protocols,　were　fabricated　and　tested.　According　to　experimental　data,　the　miniature　FeSMA　BRBs　exhibited　full　hysteresis,　which　is　characterized　by　large　damping,　noticeable　isotropic　and　kinematic　hardening　behavior　and　appreciable　post-yield　stiffness　ratio.　The　cumulative　plastic　deformations　meet　the　requirement　by　ANSI/AISC　341-16.　Further,　high　fidelity　finite　element　models,　which　explicitly　considered　damage　and　fracture　rules,　were　established　for　numerical　simulations.　Good　agreement　can　be　found　between　the　experimental　data　and　numerical　simulations,　in　terms　of　failure　modes,　fracture　locations　and　global　hysteresis.　©　2024　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.