To investigate the seismic performance and deformation index limits

twelve T-shaped reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls with different shear span ratios

design axial compression ratios and longitudinal reinforcement ratios of boundary element were designed according to Chinese current codes. The specimens were tested under low frequency cyclic loading to study the seismic behaviors such as failure pattern

hysteretic characteristic

energy dissipation capacity and deformation capacity. According to the test results

corresponding deformation index limits of six performance states were obtained with two methods based on skeleton curve and experimental phenomena. Regression analysis was conducted with collected experimental results to build the correlations of deformation index limits at different performance states and shear span ratios

design axial compression ratios and longitudinal reinforcement ratios of boundary element. The results show that the failure patterns of specimens are transformed from flexural failure to flexural-shear failure with the decrease of shear span ratio. It is reasonable and feasible to establish the relationship between deformation index limits and damage extents of T-shaped RC shear walls based on skeleton curve. While the deformation index limit has positive correlations with shear span ratio and longitudinal reinforcement ratio of boundary element

there is a negative correlation between deformation index limit and design axial compression ratio.