To　reduce　the　residual　deformation　of　conventional　frictional　energy　dissipation　braces　under　severe　earthquakes,　a　novel　self-centering　variable　frictional　energy　dissipation　brace　(S-SCFB)　based　on　a　shape　memory　alloy　(SMA)　was　developed.　The　S-SCFB　mainly　consists　of　an　SMA　plate　ring　self-centering　system　and　frictional　energy　dissipation　system.　First,　the　configuration　of　the　novel　brace　is　described,　and　its　working　and　self-centring　principles　were　revealed.　The　mechanical　properties　of　the　SMA　plates　were　studied　by　conducting　material　tests,　and　a　simplified　analytical　model　of　the　novel　brace　was　established.　Second,　a　solid　numerical　model　of　the　brace　was　established　using　ABAQUS.　The　simulation　results　were　compared　with　the　calculation　results　of　the　simplified　analytical　model,　and　the　hysteresis　performance　and　influencing　factors　of　the　novel　brace　were　studied　systematically.　Simultaneously,　the　restoring　force　model　of　the　novel　brace　was　developed　using　OpenSees　software.　Finally,　owing　to　its　excellent　hysteresis　performance,　the　novel　brace　was　applied　to　the　double-column　bridge　piers　to　improve　the　seismic　resilience　of　the　bridge　piers.　The　results　show　that　the　constitutive　model　of　the　SMA　plate　has　a　＂flag-shaped,＂　which　has　a　high　bearing　capacity,　good　deformation　capacity,　and　good　self-centering　ability.　The　assembled　S-SCFB　based　on　SMA　plates　exhibits　stable　energy　dissipation　capacity,　excellent　self-centering　ability,　and　no　residual　deformation　during　unloading;　the　established　simplified　analysis　model　agrees　with　the　finite　element　simulation　results.　The　hysteresis　performance　could　be　effectively　adjusted　by　changing　the　design　parameters　of　the　S-SCFB.　An　additional　S-SCFB　can　effectively　improve　the　strength　and　stiffness　of　bridge　piers,　reduce　the　residual　displacement　of　the　structure,　and　effectively　improve　the　seismic　resilience　of　the　structure.　©　2024　Xi＇an　Highway　University.　All　rights　reserved.