Abstract: In order to study the failure mechanism and seismic performance of reinforced concrete core walls under different parameters, the concrete core walls under static horizontal loads are simulated using nonlinear analysis and performance assessment program PERFORM-3D. The validity and accuracy of an elastic-plastic model is verified by the comparison between the analytical predictions and test results. On this basis, the parameters on the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete core walls are analyzed, including the effects of axial compression ratio, coupling beam span-depth ratio, coupling beam longitudinal reinforcement rate and height to width ratio. According to the calculation results, the bearing capacity of concrete core walls is improved with the increase of the axial compression ratio. However, when the value of a test axial compression ratio reaches 0.5, bearing capacities are reduced. Deformation capacity reduces with the increase of axial compression ratio. With the increase of height to width ratio, the bearing capacity of concrete core walls is reduced but the deformation capacity is improved significantly. Moreover, the failure mode of core walls with different high aspect ratios is changed. With the increase of coupling beam stiffness, the bearing capacity of core walls increases while ductility deformation capacity reduces seriously. In addition, based on the elastic-plastic damage analysis of a core walls model, the damage development order and component yield situation of core walls are obtained.