The　feasibility　of　the　large　scale　TiNi　shape　memory　alloy　(TiNi　SMA)　spring　for　structural　control　was　studied　through　hysteretic　performance　test.　First,　two　types　of　large　scale　superelastic　TiNi　helical　spring　with　the　same　sizes　but　different　materials　are　designed　and　fabricated.　Then,　the　restoring　force-displacement　curves　of　such　superelastic　springs　under　different　loading　conditions　are　obtained　by　conducting　a　set　of　cyclic　tension-compression　tests.　Finally,　the　influence　of　the　cyclic　number,　the　loading　frequency　and　the　displacement　amplitude　on　the　hysteresis　loops　and　the　mechanical　parameters　such　as　equivalent　stiffness,　energy　dissipation　per　cycle,　equivalent　damping　ratio　and　residual　displacement　are　analyzed.　The　experimental　program　demonstrates　that　the　large　scale　TiNi　springs　provide　stable　hysteretic　response　with　appreciable　energy　dissipation,　re-centering　ability,　and　large　displacement　capability　and　nonlinear　restoring　force.　In　summary,　the　TiNi　springs　exhibit　great　potential　in　re-centering　control　of　engineering　structures.　©,　2015,　Journal　of　Functional　Materials.　All　right　reserved.