The　beam-column　connection　is　the　weakest　link　of　the　precast　concrete　(PC)　frame　in　earthquakes.　An　innovative　friction　damper　(FD)　as　connector　is　proposed　in　this　paper　to　improve　the　quality　of　beam-column　connection.　To　promote　the　use　of　FD　in　PC　frames,　corresponding　research　was　conducted　in　this　paper.　Firstly,　hysteretic　behaviors　of　three　FDs　were　investigated　using　cyclic　tests,　test　variables　including　the　bolt　hole　pattern　(circular　or　slotted)　and　materials　that　form　the　friction　interface　(steel-steel　or　steel-brass　interface).　Then,　a　cyclic　test　was　conducted　on　a　PC　beam-column　joint　equipped　with　an　optimized　FD　(PCJ-FD)　to　compare　its　failure　pattern　and　hysteretic　behavior　with　that　of　a　PC　joint　(PCJ)　from　a　previous　literature.　Finally,　a　parametric　study　using　ABAQUS　was　conducted.　The　parameters　include　the　bolt　preload　and　the　bolt　hole　diameter.　Results　showed　that　the　bolt　hole　pattern　has　little　effect　on　FD＇s　hysteretic　behavior,　while　the　steel-brass　interface　could　achieve　a　more　stable　hysteretic　behavior　than　the　steel-steel　case.　Under　hysteretic　loads,　large　concrete　spalled　at　beam　compressive　zone　near　the　joint　core　in　PCJ,　but　only　several　slight　cracks　generated　at　the　beam　and　near　the　joint　core　in　PCJ-FD.　FD　can　effectively　protect　the　PC　joint　from　damage　caused　by　earthquakes.　The　hysteretic　curve　of　PCJ-FD　was　very　plump,　while　that　of　PCJ　experienced　a　severe　pinching,　indicating　FD＇s　excellent　ability　to　dissipate　energy.　Numerical　study　showed　that　increasing　the　bolt　preload　increases　the　accumulated　dissipated　energy　of　FD,　while　decreasing　the　bolt　hole　diameter　to　some　extent　restrains　the　friction　plates　from　sliding　against　each　other,　which　is　not　beneficial　to　dissipating　energy.