The basic structure and the seismic isolation principle of the friction pendulum bearing（FPB） are introduced.The theoretical analysis study on FPB based on the principle of mechanical equilibrium is conducted. The stiffness and the effective viscous damping ratio of FPB are derived and also the hysteretic model is constructed

while its recovery mechanism is discussed and the computing formula of maximum residual displacement is obtained as well.Moreover

the model with solid element of FPB is built by using ABAQUS software.The hysteretic property under low cyclic loading and the recovery characteristic are simulated.It is shown that:（1） the results of numerical simulation agree well with that of theoretical analysis.The hysteretic model and the computing formula of maximum residual displacement proposed are verified.（2） FPB has favorable hysteretic property according to its plump hysteretic curve.（3） The stiffness of FPB is inversely proportional to the spherical radius

and the probable maximum residual displacement of FPB is the product of friction coefficient and spherical radius.（4） The maximum stress of bearing appears when the bearing reaches its design displacement

and it may generally situate at the edge of ball joint surface of slider or bearing plate.