To establish a mechanical model and shear bearing capacity calculation method for reinforced concrete masonry walls

a prediction method based on the analysis of the shear failure test characteristics of reinforced concrete masonry walls was proposed

in which the softened strut-and-tie model was adopted and the softening effect of concrete block masonry under compression was considered. The rationality of softened strut-and-tie model was verified by the 54 existing tested reinforced concrete block masonry walls failed in shear

and the prediction results were compared with those of relevant formulas at home and abroad. The research results show that good agreement is achieved between the prediction results and tested results

and the prediction results are closer to the tested results than those of relevant formula with a lower coefficient of variation value.Furthermore

this model has a clear and definite mechanical model and it can reasonably reveal the shear failure mechanism of reinforced concrete block masonry walls with span-to-depth ratios no greater than 2.0.