Abstract: A cyclic shear energy absorber for absorbing energy due to induced motion between two members by plastic cyclical deformation of a central energy absorber core. The core is surrounded by a restraining device having movable inner walls, preferably in the form of a deformable cylinder wound from a strip of material having a rectangular cross section. The restraining element is confined in a cylindrical aperture formed in a resilient support having alternately arranged resilient layers and stiffener layers. The absorber is confined between two end plates capable of being coupled to associated structural members, such as a bridge support column and a base.