This　paper　reports　an　experimental　work　on　a　novel　self-centering　brace,　which　is　a　serial　combination　of　shape　memory　alloy　slip　friction　damper　and　steel　tube.　The　study　initiates　with　describing　the　axial　behavior,　in-plane　rotational　behavior　and　global　buckling　behavior　of　the　brace,　and　deriving　the　corresponding　analytical　equations.　Then,　cyclic　loading　tests　are　conducted　to　obtain　the　hysteresis　behavior　of　shape　memory　alloy　bolt　and　the　coefficient　of　kinetic　friction　of　the　sliding　surfaces,　both　of　which　are　critical　to　the　behavior　of　the　brace.　In　what　followed,　four　tests　are　carried　out　on　a　1/3-scaled　specimen,　corresponding　to　four　loading　protocols.　The　testing　results　indicate　that　the　brace　exhibits　a　flag-shaped　hysteresis,　which　is　characterized　by　excellent　self-centering　capability　and　satisfactory　damping　capacity.　Using　the　experimental　data,　this　work　quantifies　the　peak　strength,　secant　stiffness,　energy　dissipation　and　equivalent　damping　ratio,　and　analyzes　the　local　strains　and　deformations.　Furthermore,　three-dimensional　finite　element　models　are　established　for　numerical　simulations.　The　finite　element　models　capture　the　global　and　local　behavior　of　the　brace.　Both　the　analytical　equations　and　numerical　simulations　agree　reasonably　well　with　the　experimental　data.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd