This　study　conducts　pseudo-static　tests　on　two　prefabricated　exterior　damping　joints　equipped　with　steel　plate　damper　connection　to　investigate　the　effects　of　different　energy　dissipation　mechanisms　of　the　steel　plate　dampers　on　the　mechanical　behavior　of　prefabricated　beam-column　joints　in　steel　frames.　It　reports　the　failure　modes,　hysteresis　curves,　skeleton　curves,　slip　curves,　and　strain　development.　Additionally,　it　analyzes　the　bearing　capacity,　ductility,　energy　dissipation　capacity,　and　moment-rotation　behavior.　The　results　demonstrated　that　the　prefabricated　exterior　damping　joints　with　steel　plate　dampers　can　develop　substantial　bearing　capacity　and　energy　dissipation.　The　beams,　columns,　and　joint　cores　remained　undamaged,　with　damage　concentrated　in　the　steel　plate　dampers.　The　prefabricated　exterior　damping　joints　with　bearing　energy　dissipation　steel　plates　with　circular　openings　(BSDC)　failed　due　to　the　rupture　of　the　steel　plate　damper,　whereas　those　with　friction　energy　dissipation　steel　plates　with　long　slotted　openings　(FSDC)　exhibited　pronounced　sliding　behavior　and　residual　bending　deformation　in　the　steel　plate　dampers.　The　bearing　capacity　of　FSDC　was　lower　and　decreased　slightly　under　large　displacements　due　to　the　loss　of　friction　coefficient　and　bolt　pretension　under　cyclic　loading.　However,　the　hysteresis　curve　was　more　plumped　and　exhibited　relatively　stable　hysteresis　behavior.　The　bearing　capacity　of　BSDC　decreased　abruptly　with　the　rupture　of　the　steel　plate　dampers.　The　energy　dissipation　capacity　and　ductility　of　FSDC　were　superior　to　those　of　BSDC,　with　88%　of　the　energy　dissipation　consumed　by　friction　steel　plate　dampers,　compared　to　67%　by　bearing　steel　plate　dampers.　These　findings　indicated　that　energy　dissipation　concentration　is　achieved,　and　the　sliding　behavior　of　steel　plate　dampers　is　beneficial　for　enhancing　both　energy　dissipation　capacity　and　deformation　capacity.　©　2024　Sichuan　University.　All　rights　reserved.