This　paper　presents　a　series　of　quasi-static　tests　of　four　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　wall　specimens　with　aspect　ratio　of　2.0　subjected　to　axial　tensile　forces　and　lateral　cyclic　loading.　The　coupled　axial　tension-flexure　behavior　of　RC　walls　is　investigated　including　the　failure　modes,　hysteretic　response,　strength,　stiffness,　deformation　and　energy　dissipation　capacities.　The　test　results　indicate　two　types　of　failure　modes　for　the　wall　specimens,　including　flexure-sliding　failure　(for　specimens　with　the　normalized　vertical　reinforcement　tensile　stress　ns=0.23~0.63)　and　flexure　failure　(for　specimen　with　ns=0.91).　The　axial　tensile　force　results　in　significant　decrease　of　lateral　strength,　stiffness　and　energy　dissipation　capacity　of　the　RC　wall　specimens.　The　maximum　strength　of　specimen　HSW4　(ns=0.91)　is　smaller　than　that　of　HSW1　(ns=0.23)　by　41%.　The　ultimate　drift　ratio　of　the　RC　wall　specimens　ranges　from　1.3%　to　1.6%,　exceeding　the　inelastic　drift　limit　of　1/100　specified　in　the　Chinese　code　GB　50010-2010.　Using　the　measured　crack　width　data　and　Vecchio-Collins　equation,　the　shear-sliding　strength　capacity　degradation　along　the　critical　crack　surface　is　calculated,　and　the　mechanism　of　flexural-sliding　failure　is　revealed.　A　rigorous　finite　element　(FE)　model　is　developed　using　VecTor2　software　to　simulate　the　coupled　axial　tension-flexural　behavior　of　RC　walls.　The　FE　analytical　results　agree　well　with　the　experimental　results,　providing　accurate　prediction　of　failure　modes,　stiffness　and　strength　of　the　wall　specimens.　Copyright　©2022　Engineering　Mechanics.　All　rights　reserved.