Bridges　may　suffer　large　residual　displacements　after　a　severe　earthquake,　which　significantly　impedes　the　post　quake　rescue　activities.　It　is　imperative　to　minimize　the　residual　deformations　of　bridge　structures.　In　the　present　study,　a　self-centering　slip　friction　(SCSF)　brace　is　developed　to　dissipate　seismic　energy　and　reduce　the　residual　displacement　of　RC　double-column　bridge　bents.　The　design　and　working　mechanism　of　the　brace　are　firstly　introduced,　and　parametric　studies　are　performed　to　examine　the　influences　of　the　key　parameters　of　the　brace.　Experimental　studies　on　the　components　of　the　brace　and　the　whole　brace　were　carried　out　to　examine　its　behaviors　and　to　validate　the　analytical　results　derived　according　to　the　working　mechanism.　This　brace　is　then　applied　to　a　RC　double-column　bridge　bent　to　enhance　its　cyclic　behaviors,　and　its　effectiveness　is　examined　through　numerical　simulations.　In　particular,　the　influences　of　the　location　and　type　of　the　connection　between　the　brace　and　bridge　bent　are　investigated.　Experimental　and　numerical　results　show　that　the　brace　has　prominent　energy　dissipation　and　self-centering　capabilities,　and　it　can　significantly　enhance　the　cyclic　behaviors　of　RC　a　double-column　bridge　bent.