The　concept　and　development　history　of　particle　damper　(PD)　technology　is　introduced,　and　the　research　status　of　particle　damper　in　the　field　of　machinery,　aviation　and　aerospace　is　briefly　analyzed.The　applicability　and　development　direction　in　the　field　of　civil　engineering　is　emphatically　discussed.To　meet　the　engineering　requirements　and　applicability　of　particle　damper　in　civil　engineering,　PD　is　divided　into　accumulative　and　non-accumulative　particle　dampers　according　to　the　situation　whether　there　is　a　gap　between　particles　and　cavity　walls　in　the　direction　of　vibration.The　damping　mechanism,　theoretical　analysis,　numerical　simulation　and　experimental　research　of　accumulative　and　non-accumulative　particle　dampers　and　the　factors　affecting　their　performance　are　systematically　elaborated.Meanwhile,　the　comparative　analysis　shows　that　the　damping　effect　of　non-accumulative　particle　dampers　is　significantly　better　than　that　of　accumulative　particle　dampers　in　the　field　of　civil　engineering.Finally,　some　problems　and　deficiencies　in　the　current　theoretical　model,　practical　application　and　design　method　of　particle　dampers　for　vibration　reduction　of　civil　engineering　structures　are　discussed,　and　suggestions　for　the　research　and　development　are　proposed.　©　2020,　Editorial　Office　of　China　Civil　Engineering　Journal.　All　right　reserved.