This　paper　investigates　the　cyclic　behavior　of　a　steel　self-centering　(SC)　rocking　column.　The　steel　SC　rocking　column　consists　of　an　H-section　steel　column　and　a　pair　of　shape　memory　alloy　(SMA)　slip-friction　dampers　(SMASFDs).　As　the　kernel　part,　the　SMASFDs　enhance　SC　capability　of　the　rocking　column　and　dissipate　the　input　energy.　The　working　principle　of　the　rocking　column　is　first　described,　along　with　the　analytical　equations　that　govern　the　behavior　under　loading　cycles,　which　are　validated　by　experimental　data.　The　component　tests　were　conducted　on　the　NiTi　SMA　bar　and　the　slip-friction　mechanism,　separately.　And　then,　the　cyclic　loading　tests　were　conducted　on　a　1:2-scaled　rocking　column　specimen.　The　considered　axial　force　ratio　included　0,　0.1　and　0.2.　During　the　entire　experimental　procedure,　the　SMA　bars　were　neither　repaired　nor　replaced.　It　is　found　that　up　to　a　drift　ratio　of　7　%,　the　rocking　column　maintained　stable　flag-shaped　hysteresis,　which　is　characterized　by　excellent　SC　capability　and　satisfactory　damping　capacity.　The　testing　results　also　indicated　that　increasing　axial　force　ratio　effectively　increased　the　strength　and　stiffness　of　the　rocking　column,　whereas　it　reduced　the　post　-decompression　stiffness　due　to　the　P-Delta　effect.　Finally,　the　numerical　models　were　established　in　ABAQUS　and　OpenSees,　both　of　which　were　verified　by　the　experimental　data,　and　a　parametric　study　was　carried　out.