A　new　lead　extrusion　and　friction　composite　damper　(LEFCD)　is　proposed　for　multi-level　seismic　protection.　Compared　with　conventional　metallic　dampers,　LEFCD　is　an　assembly　of　components　which　are　changeable　and　can　provide　specific　performances.　For　small　and　moderate　earthquakes,　the　LEFCD　uses　only　the　lead　extrusion　dampers.　For　strong　earthquakes,　the　LEFCD　uses　both　the　lead　extrusion　and　friction　dampers　simultaneously　to　dissipate　the　seismic　energy.　To　investigate　the　performance　of　LEFCD,　theoretical　analyses　and　experimental　cyclic　loading　tests　of　LEFCD　were　carried　out.　Also,　finite　element　models　of　the　LEFCD　were　established　and　were　compared　with　the　testing　results.　The　theoretical　analysis　results　indicated　that　the　LEFCD　can　provide　different　mechanical　behaviors　for　different　LEFCD　setups.　Results　of　testing　and　numerical　analysis　showed　that　the　LEFCD　had　good　energy　dissipation　capacity　and　that　the　finite　element　modeling　was　accurate　compared　to　the　test　results.　©　2018　Elsevier　Ltd