U-shaped　steel　plates　can　be　used　as　dampers　in　push　and　pull　effect,　and　can　be　used　as　limiters　in　push　effect.　Usually,　the　two　arms　of　U-shaped　steel　plates　are　restrained　out-of-plane　by　structure　members　at　work,　and　deformation　of　them　occur　only　in　the　semicircle　arc.　In　order　to　study　the　performance　of　the　U-plate　steel　plates,　9　different　U-shaped　steel　plates　were　made　and　tested.　This　paper　summarizes　performance　of　U-shaped　steel　plates　as　dampers　and　limiters,　presents　3　kinds　of　calculation　methods,　which　are　correction　coefficient　method,　diagram　method　and　finite　element　method.　In　the　first　method,　coefficients　were　proposed　by　regression　of　experimental　data　and　theoretical　derivation.　In　the　second　method,　theoretical　basis　of　the　method　was　given,　and　calculated　results　come　out　of　method　were　compared　with　test　data.　In　the　last　method,　the　experiments　were　simulated　by　the　finite　element　software　ABAQUS,　and　analog　results　were　compared　with　test　data.　The　3　kinds　of　methods　each　has　its　own　advantages,　and　can　be　checked　and　complemented　each　other　in　projects.