A　plate　type　of　variable　friction　damper　was　proposed　in　order　to　make　the　damping　devices　be　provided　with　complex　damping　characteristics.　Based　on　static　equilibrium　conditions,　the　theoretical　formulas　for　the　hysteretic　damper　model　according　to　its　geometric　and　physical　parameters　were　derived.　And　the　hysteretic　curve　of　the　damper　was　simulated　using　the　nonlinear　finite　element　analysis.　Some　low　period　reciprocating　tests　on　the　hysteretic　behavior　of　the　damper　were　conducted.　The　key　parameters　affecting　the　hysteresis　performance　based　on　the　above　methods　were　investigated.　The　results　show　that　the　hysteresis　curves　of　the　damper　are　symmetrical　triangles　with　respect　to　the　origin　and　locate　in　first　and　third　quadrants.　The　hysteresis　curves　by　both　the　theoretical　formulas　and　numerical　simulation　are　in　good　agreement　with　the　experimental　results.　The　key　factors　affecting　the　damper　hysteretic　performance　are　the　spring　stiffness,　two　friction　coefficients　and　an　angle.　It　is　shown　that　the　hysteresis　curves　of　the　damper　have　obviously　complex　damping　characteristics.　The　results　by　both　the　theoretical　formulas　and　numerical　simulation　of　the　hysteretic　model　can　be　used　as　a　preliminary　method　for　the　damper　designing.　©　2017,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Vibration　and　Shock.　All　right　reserved.