In　order　to　improve　damping　energy　dissipation　of　a　U-shaped　bellows　structure,　elastic-porous　metal　rubber　as　a　cover　layer　was　adopted　and　the　corresponding　vibration　parameters　were　identified.　First,　the　evolution　of　energy　dissipation　characteristics　with　respect　to　the　changes　of　amplitude　and　frequency　was　investigated　through　a　dynamic　experimental　test　in　the　bending　direction　of　the　covered　bellows　structure.　Second,　the　conspicuous　hysteresis　loop　characteristics　were　described　while　the　nonlinear　constitutive　relation　was　analytically　modelled　based　on　the　exact　decomposition　method.　Third,　the　corresponding　parameters　on　dynamic　properties　of　the　covered　bellows　structure　were　determined　by　generalized　least-squares　estimation.　Finally,　the　prediction　results　were　compared　with　the　measured　displacement-restoring　force　curves　to　verify　the　accuracy　of　the　developed　dynamic　model.　The　results　indicate　that　the　proposed　dynamic　model　associated　with　the　nonlinear　constitutive　relation　for　the　covered　bellows　structure　can　well　describe　the　evolution　of　the　restoring　force　in　terms　of　amplitude　and　frequency.　©　2021　Guojian　Shen　et　al.