Abstract：The axial tensile tests were performed for reinforced concrete shear wall with sectional longitudinal reinforcement ratio of 1.7% and 2.5%, respectively. Based on these tests, the tensile stiffness of the shear wall is shared and provided by reinforcement and concrete before concrete cracks, and gradually decreases with the increase of the axial tension. When concrete cracks, the tensile stiffness of the shear wall decreases rapidly. After cracking, concrete can’t bear the load any more, and the axial tensile stiffness gradually approaches the sectional longitudinal stiffness of the reinforcement. Furthermore, theoretical analyses on the axial tensile characteristics and stiffness variation characteristics of the shear wall are conducted. A two-stage calculation method is proposed for describing the axial tensile stiffness variation characteristics of the reinforced concrete shear wall. In this method, the tensile modulus is calculated by using the concrete constitutive model before and during cracking of concrete, but after cracking of concrete, a strain uniformity coefficient of longitudinal tensile reinforcement is introduced for the calculation. The theoretical values obtained by the proposed method agree well with the experiment results, and it can better reflect the stress and stiffness variation characteristics of the shear wall during the axial tensile stage.
