RC　double-column　medium　height　bents　(DCMBs)　are　widely　applied　in　the　mountain　areas　as　the　substructure　of　highway　bridges,　and　the　two　columns　are　normally　connected　by　RC　link　beams　to　enhance　the　lateral　stability.　However,　serious　damage　and/or　large　residual　displacement　were　repeatedly　observed　in　the　DCMBs　after　many　major　earthquakes,　which　may　make　the　bridges　lose　functionality　and　have　to　be　demolished　and　rebuilt.　In　order　to　improve　the　seismic　performance　of　the　bridges,　a　novel　self-centering　variable　friction　dissipation　brace　(SCVFB)　using　SMA　plates　is　developed　to　replace　the　traditional　RC　link　beams　in　the　DCMBs　in　this　study.　The　mechanical　properties　of　the　shape　memory　alloy　(SMA)　plate　were　investigated　experimentally.　Then,　the　analytical　model　of　the　DCMBs　with　inverted-V　SCVFBs　(DCMB-SVFB)　is　built,　and　the　corresponding　design　philosophies　of　the　SCVFB　in　the　DCMB　are　proposed　based　on　the　concept　of　structural　fuse.　Subsequently,　the　hysteretic　behaviors　of　the　DCMB-SCVFB　in　the　transverse　direction　are　analyzed,　and　the　dynamic　responses　of　the　whole　bridge　under　near-field　ground　motions　are　also　investigated.　For　comparison,　the　seismic　behaviors　of　the　bridges　with　original　bents　(the　bridges　with　and　without　link　beams)　and　the　bridges　retrofitted　with　buckling　restrained　braces　(BRBs)　are　also　presented.　The　results　show　that　the　SCVFB　has　stable　energy　dissipation　capability　and　excellent　self-centering　ability,　even　without　the　need　of　prestressing.　Compared　with　the　original　bridge,　the　bridges　with　SCVFBs　and　BRBs　are　featured　by　higher　strength,　larger　stiffness,　better　energy　dissipation　capacity,　and　less　damage.　In　particular,　the　SCVFB　can　effectively　reduce　the　residual　displacement　of　the　bridge　and　quickly　restore　the　traffic　capacity.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer　Nature　B.V.　2024.