In　this　paper,　an　energy-dissipating　steel-hinge　connection　in　a　prefabricated　joint　was　proposed,　in　which　hole-opened　weakened　steel-plate　dampers　were　its　key　parts.　The　axial　reciprocating　loading　tests　were　conducted　on　three　different　hole-opened　weakened　dampers　to　investigate　the　failure　mode,　the　hysteretic　performance,　skeleton　curve,　bearing　capacity　as　well　as　the　ductility.　Then　the　effects　of　the　weakened　length　and　width　of　the　hole,　the　width-thickness　ratio,　and　the　thickness　direction　gap　on　the　hysteretic　performance　of　the　steel-plate　damper　were　discussed.　In　addition,　a　simplified　mechanical　model　of　the　weakened　steel-plate　damper　was　established　to　derive　the　hysteretic　constitutive　model　which　was　verified　by　the　experimental　results.　The　results　show　that　the　weakened　steel　plate　of　the　damper　cracks　or　breaks　at　the　hole-opened　part,　avoiding　out-of-plane　buckling　and　achieving　the　controllability　of　plastic　energy　dissipation　and　failure　mode.　The　hysteresis　curve　of　the　dampers　is　full,　the　bearing　capacity　is　higher　than　297.31　kN,　and　the　displacement　ductility　coefficient　is　greater　than　4.5,　showing　good　energy　dissipation　capacity,　bearing　capacity　and　ductility　performance.　Compared　with　diamond-shaped　openings,　the　vertical　slot-opening　damper　has　better　overall　mechanical　properties.　It　is　also　recommended　that　the　weakened　length　a/L　of　the　hole　is　from　0.25　to　0.55,　the　weakened　width　b/B　is　from　0.2　to　0.5,　the　width-to-thickness　ratio　is　from　12.50　to　15.63,　and　the　gap　in　the　thickness　direction　cannot　exceed　2　mm.　The　proposed　hysteretic　constitutive　model　can　accurately　simulate　the　hysteresis　performance　of　the　hole-opened　weakened　steel-plate　damper.　©　2023　Chongqing　University.　All　rights　reserved.