<p>This study investigates the effectiveness of energy dissipation devices in reducing seismic damage to large bridges, particularly focusing on buckling restrained braces (BRBs) and shape memory alloys (SMAs). Utilising SAP2000 software, the bridge models are designed with a displacement-based approach and subjected to three different ground motions to evaluate the performance of these devices in minimising lateral displacements and forces. The findings indicate that SMAs outperform BRBs due to their superior self-centring properties. While the primary focus is on BRBs and SMAs, viscous dampers (VDs) provide a valuable baseline for comparison. VDs serve as a well-established passive control system, highlighting the potential benefits of combining BRBs with VDs to enhance overall performance. The results reveal that bracing systems significantly reduce lateral deflection and force in the mid-upper sections of the piers compared to unbraced models. Specifically, BRBs reduce deflection by 30%, VDs by 40%, and SMAs by 50%. This comprehensive analysis underscores the importance of incorporating advanced bracing systems in bridge substructures to mitigate seismic impacts, offering insights for future research and the broader application of combined energy dissipation systems in bridge engineering.</p>