The　seismic　resilience-based　design　of　infrastructures　is　a　current　hot　research　topic,　and　such　design　is　an　extension　of　the　performance-based　design　philosophy.　The　seismic　resilient　structures　can　quickly　recover　their　full　functionality　by　minor　or　no　repair　after　earthquakes,　which　considers　primarily　the　structural　functionality　after　repairs　and　the　cost　required　to　restore　its　functionality.　To　enhance　structural　seismic　resilience,　the　application　of　self-centering　energy　dissipation　braces　(SCEBs)　is　considered　as　a　good　solution,　in　particular,　the　damaged　braces　are　easy　to　repair　or　replace.　In　this　paper,　a　novel　SCEB　using　the　SMA　U-shaped　plates　(SCEBSMAU)　is　developed,　and　quasi-static　tests　are　performed　to　investigate　its　hysteresis　behavior.　For　comparison,　a　pure　energy　dissipation　brace　using　steel　U-shaped　plates　(EDB-SU)　is　also　tested.　Then,　nonlinear　dynamic　time　history　and　fragility　analysis　methods　(considering　the　maximum　and　residual　drift　ratios　as　the　engineering　demand　parameters)　are　employed　to　assess　the　seismic　performance　of　RC　bridges　with　SCEB-SMAUs　and　EDBSUs.　Subsequently,　the　seismic　resilience　and　economic　losses　of　the　bridges　with　and　without　braces　are　further　investigated,　and　a　comparative　assessment　of　the　bridges　with　EDB-SUs　and　SCEB-SMAUs　is　emphasized　in　various　hazard　scenarios.　The　results　show　that　both　SCEB-SMAU　and　EDB-SU　can　significantly　improve　seismic　resilience　and　reduce　economic　losses.　In　particular,　the　EDB-SU　can　be　slightly　more　effective　in　improving　seismic　resilience　and　reducing　economic　losses　under　a　small　PGA,　while　SCEB-SMAU　is　much　more　effective　under　a　high　PGA.