This　paper　presents　an　experimental　and　numerical　study　to　investigate　the　hysteretic　performance　of　a　new　type　of　isolator　consisting　of　shape　memory　alloy　springs　and　friction　bearing　called　an　SMA　spring-friction　bearing　(SFB).　The　SFB　is　a　sliding-type　isolator　with　SMA　devices　used　for　the　seismic　protection　of　engineering　structures.　The　principle　of　operation　of　the　isolation　bearing　is　introduced.　In　order　to　explore　the　possibility　of　applying　SMA　elements　in　passive　seismic　control　devices,　large　diameter　superelastic　tension/compression　NiTi　SMA　helical　springs　used　in　the　SFB　isolator　were　developed.　Mechanical　experiments　of　the　SMA　helical　spring　were　carried　out　to　understand　its　superelastic　characteristics.　After　that,　a　series　of　quasi-static　tests　on　a　single　SFB　isolator　prototype　were　conducted　to　measure　its　force-displacement　relationships　for　different　loading　conditions　and　study　the　corresponding　variation　law　of　its　mechanical　performance.　The　experimental　results　demonstrate　that　the　SFB　exhibits　full　hysteretic　curves,　excellent　energy　dissipation　capacity,　and　moderate　recentering　ability.　Finally,　a　theoretical　model　capable　of　emulating　the　hysteretic　behavior　of　the　SMA-based　isolator　was　then　established　and　implemented　in　MATLAB　software.　The　comparison　of　the　numerical　results　with　the　experimental　results　shows　the　efficacy　of　the　proposed　model　for　simulating　the　response　of　the　SFB.