Two　columns　of　RC　double-column　medium-height　bents　(DCMBs)　are　normally　connected　by　link　beams　to　enhance　the　lateral　stability.　Serious　damage　and/or　large　residual　displacement　were　repeatedly　observed　in　the　DCMBs　after　major　earthquakes,　which　may　make　the　bridges　lose　traffic　functionality　or　even　be　demolished　and　rebuilt.　To　enhance　the　seismic　performance　of　bridge　structures　with　DCMB　with　link　beams,　the　self-centering　energy　dissipation　braces　(SCEBs)　were　applied　to　the　DCMB　in　the　＂K＂-shaped　arrangement　scenario　to　replace　the　traditional　link　beams　in　this　study.　To　this　end,　the　design　philosophies　of　the　SCEBs　in　the　DCMB　were　first　developed　based　on　the　configuration　and　force　analysis　of　the　DCMB　with　SCEBs.　Then,　1:4　scaled　RC　DCMB　and　DCMB　with　link　beams　specimens　were　designed.　Based　on　the　design　philosophies　and　the　hysteretic　performance　of　the　DCMB,　a　novel　SCEB　with　U-shaped　steel　plates　(SCEB-U)　was　developed　and　tested,　and　the　test　results　showed　that　the　SCEB-U　exhibited　a　typical　flag-shaped　hysteretic　behavior　with　great　deformation　capacity.　Subsequently,　the　quasi-static　cyclic　loading　test　of　the　DCMB　with　SCEBs　specimen　was　carried　out,　and　a　DCMB　with　link　beams　and　a　DCMB　with　energy　dissipation　braces　(EDBs)　with　U-shaped　steel　plates　(DCMB　with　EDB-Us)　were　also　tested　for　comparison.　The　experimental　results　showed　that　the　DCMBs　with　braces　suffered　the　least　damage　compared　with　the　DCMB　with　link　beams,　and　there　was　no　obvious　damage　in　the　column-brace　connection　regions.　The　DCMB　with　SCEB-Us　exhibited　excellent　flag-type　hysteresis　behavior　with　large　carrying　capacity,　stable　energy　dissipation,　and　satisfactory　self-centering　ability.