On the performance of a smart hybrid damper consisting of shape memory alloy and steel rings

•Two types of hybrid rings consist of shape memory alloy and steel rings are experimentally tested with cyclic loading.•The SMA ring with an outer steel ring shows excellent re-centering capacity with increasing energy dissipation.•However, the SMA ring with an inner steel ring spoils almost re-centering capacity.•Finite element models show that loose connection between the two ring maintains re-centering capacity of the SMA ring.