Buckling　restrained　braces　(BRBs)　are　normally　incorporated　in　the　beam-column　structures　to　serve　as　energy　dissipation　members　due　to　their　stable　hysteretic　behavior.　However,　the　structures　equipped　with　BRBs　may　suffer　excessive　residual　deformations　when　they　are　subjected　to　large　earthquakes.　To　minimize　the　residual　deformations　of　the　structures　with　traditional　BRBs,　a　novel　self-centering　buckling　restrained　brace　(SC-BRB)　consisting　of　a　self-centering　system　and　a　traditional　BRB　system　is　developed　in　the　present　study.　Large-scale　experimental　studies　are　carried　out　and　the　hysteretic　behavior　of　the　proposed　system　is　compared　with　the　traditional　BRB　and　self-centering　brace　(SCB).　Experimental　results　show　that　the　SC-BRB　exhibits　flag-shaped　hysteresis　response　with　a　small　residual　deformation　and　a　moderate　energy　dissipation　capability.　The　proposed　SC-BRB　is　applied　to　a　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　double-column　bridge　pier　for　seismic　retrofitting.　Nonlinear　dynamic　analyses　are　carried　out　to　examine　its　effect　on　the　seismic　behavior　of　the　bridge.　Numerical　results　demonstrate　that　the　bridge　equipped　with　SC-BRB　system　shows　much　smaller　residual　displacement　compared　to　the　ones　equipped　with　traditional　BRB　and　SCB　systems.　Numerical　results　also　indicate　that　SC-BRB　system　tends　to　amplify　the　peak　acceleration　of　the　bridge.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.