This　paper　proposes　a　new　type　of　self-centering　(SC)　damper　which　exploits　the　shape　memory　alloy　(SMA)　bolts　and　variable　friction　mechanism,　termed　the　SMA　slip　friction　damper　(SMASFD).　The　theoretical　equations　governing　the　force-displacement　relationship,　the　equivalent　stiffness　and　the　equivalent　viscous　damping　are　first　derived.　Then,　the　application　potential　of　such　damper　is　briefly　discussed.　In　the　experimental　study,　the　results　of　the　experimental　validations　of　the　SMA　bolts　and　the　friction　mechanism　are　presented,　followed　by　the　results　of　proof-of-concept　test　on　the　fabricated　SMASFDs.　According　to　the　testing　results,　the　damper　exhibited　a　symmetric　tension-compression　flag-shaped　hysteresis　characterized　by　excellent　SC　capacity　and　good　damping　capability.　The　prestrain　treatment　was　applied　to　the　SMA　bolts　in　one　test,　which　was　found　effectively　increased　the　initial　stiffness　of　the　damper.　To　provide　a　further　understanding　on　the　damper　and　examine　the　stress　and　strain　demands　of　the　components,　high-fidelity　finite　element　models　were　established　for　numerical　simulations.　Both　the　analytical　method　and　numerical　simulation　were　validated　by　the　experimental　data.