This　study　proposes　a　new　type　of　self-centering　damper　equipped　with　novel　buckling-restrained　superelastic　shape　memory　alloy　(SMA)　bars.　The　new　solution　aims　to　address　some　critical　issues　related　to　degradation　and　loss　of　superelasticity　observed　in　existing　tension-only　SMA-based　self-centering　devices,　and　in　addition,　to　encourage　enhanced　material　utilization　efficiency.　The　cyclic　tension-compression　behavior　of　individual　SMA　bars　is　experimentally　studied　first,　and　subsequently,　two　proof-of-concept　self-centering　dampers　are　manufactured　and　tested.　A　simple　yet　effective　numerical　model　capturing　the　flag-shaped　response　of　the　dampers　is　then　established,　and　a　preliminary　system-level　analysis　is　finally　conducted　to　demonstrate　the　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　damper　in　structural　seismic　control.　The　individual　SMA　bar　specimens　show　asymmetrical　flag-shaped　hysteretic　responses　with　satisfactory　self-centering　capability　and　moderate　energy　dissipation.　Through　a　specially　designed　configuration,　the　proposed　damper　shows　desirable　symmetrical　and　stable　hysteretic　behavior,　and　maintains　excellent　self-centering　capability　at　6%　bar　strain.　The　system-level　dynamic　analysis　indicates　that　the　dampers,　as　a　means　of　retrofitting,　could　effectively　reduce　both　the　peak　and　residual　inter-story　drift　ratios　of　a　six-story　steel　frame.　In　particular,　the　mean　residual　inter-story　drift　ratio　is　reduced　from　over　0.5%　to　below　0.2%　under　the　maximum　considered　earthquake,　implying　elimination　of　necessary　structural　realignment　even　after　strong　earthquakes.