Finite element（FE） analysis of the reinforced concrete core wall under lateral loading is performed in this paper.The FE model

using the software ABAQUS

is proposed to carry out the nonlinear analysis and is verified by comparing the computational results with the corresponding experimental ones obtained from laboratory tests of large-scale specimens.On this basis

a series of reinforced concrete core walls with different axial load ratios

aspect ratios and wall thicknesses are simulated and analyzed under lateral loading.The results show the effects of these parameters on the behavior of reinforced concrete core walls.With increase of the axial load ratio

the failure mode of core walls changes from tension failure mode towards compression one

and the lateral loading capacity of core walls

increases at first

and then decreases

with their ductility getting worse.With increase of the aspect ratio

the failure mode of core walls changes from the shear failure to the flexural failure with the improvement of ductility

while the base shear force decreases.Failure of the specimen with thin wall arises from the cross-section buckling instability

while the failure of specimens with thick wall is controlled by flexural capacity at bottom of wall piers

and with increase of the wall thickness

both bearing capacity and deformation ability of the core walls significantly increase and energy dissipation ability improve with the failure region extending upward from the bottom.