Using　confined　shape　memory　alloy　(SMA)　bar　or　plate,　this　study　proposes　an　innovative　self-centering　damper.　The　damper　is　essentially　properly　machined　SMA　core,　i.e.,　bar　or　plate,　that　encased　in　buckling-restrained　device.　To　prove　the　design　concept,　cyclic　loading　tests　were　carried　out.　According　to　the　test　results,　the　damper　exhibited　desired　flag-shape　hysteretic　behaviors　upon　both　tension　and　compression　actions,　although　asymmetric　behavior　is　noted.　Based　on　the　experimental　data,　the　hysteretic　parameters　that　interested　by　seismic　applications,　such　as　the　strength,　stiffness,　equivalent　damping　ratio　and　recentering　capacity,　are　quantified.　Processed　in　the　Matlab/Simulink　environment,　a　preliminary　evaluation　of　the　seismic　control　effect　for　this　damper　was　conducted.　The　proposed　damper　was　placed　at　the　first　story　of　a　multi-story　frame　and　then　the　original　and　controlled　structures　were　subjected　to　earthquake　excitations.　The　numerical　outcome　indicated　the　damper　is　effective　in　controlling　seismic　deformation　demands.　Besides,　a　companion　SMA　damper　which　represents　a　popular　type　in　previous　studies　is　also　introduced　in　the　analysis　to　further　reveal　the　seismic　control　characteristics　of　the　newly　proposed　damper.　In　current　case,　it　was　found　that　although　the　current　SMA　damper　shows　asymmetric　tension-compression　behavior,　it　successfully　contributes　comparable　seismic　control　effect　as　those　having　symmetrical　cyclic　behavior.　Additionally,　the　proposed　damper　even　shows　better　global　performance　in　controlling　acceleration　demands.　Thus,　this　paper　reduces　the　concern　of　using　SMA　dampers　with　asymmetric　cyclic　behavior　to　a　certain　degree.