To　control　the　residual　displacement　of　the　structure　after　strong　earthquakes,　this　paper　develops　and　validates　a　novel　brace,　i.e.　the　self-centering　energy　dissipative　brace　with　pre-pressed　disc　springs　and　U-shaped　steel　plates　(SCEDB-U).　The　pre-pressed　disc　springs　are　used　for　recovering　nonlinear　deformation　and　the　U-shaped　steel　plates　are　used　for　dissipating　energy.　Initially,　the　configuration　and　working　principle　are　described　in　detail.　Then　the　analytical　equations　governing　the　cyclic　behavior　of　the　brace　are　derived.　To　confirm　the　concept,　the　large-scale　bracing　specimens　are　designed　and　manufactured　for　the　quasi-static　cyclic　loading　tests.　In　the　tests,　the　varied　parameters　included　the　plate　width　of　the　U-shaped　steel　plates　and　the　pre-pressure　magnitude　of　the　stacked　disc　springs.　Besides,　the　high-fidelity　three-dimensional　finite　element　(FE)　models　of　SCEDB-U　are　established.　According　to　the　experimental　data,　the　SCEDB-U　has　typical　flag-shaped　hysteresis,　which　is　characterized　by　excellent　self-centering　capability　and　stable　energy　dissipation　ability.　It　also　indicates　that　increasing　the　plate　width　of　U-shaped　steel　plates　can　effectively　improve　the　energy　dissipation　capacity,　but　may　induce　residual　displacement;　increasing　the　pre-pressure　magnitude　of　disc　springs　could　improve　self-centering　ability.　The　numerical　results　are　in　good　agreement　with　the　experimental　data;　hence,　the　FE　models　can　be　further　utilized　for　parametric　analysis,　initial　design　and　optimization.