The　reinforced　concrete　core　wall　is　the　key　element　in　high-rise　buildings　for　seismic　design.　In　order　to　study　the　seismic　performance　of　core　walls,　this　paper　deals　with　finite　element　(FE)　analysis　of　the　concrete　core　wall　under　lateral　loading.　The　FE　model,　using　the　software　ABAQUS,　is　proposed　to　carried　out　the　nonlinear　analysis　and　is　verified　by　comparing　the　computational　results　with　the　corresponding　experimental　ones　obtained　from　laboratory　tests　of　large-scale　specimens.　On　this　basis,　a　series　of　reinforced　concrete　core　walls　with　different　parameters　are　simulated　and　analyzed　under　lateral　loading,　which　include　their　opening　sizes,　concrete　strengths　and　span-height　ratios　of　coupling　beams.　The　core　wall　with　double　coupling　beams　is　also　studied　and　compared　with　that　with　single　coupling　beams.　The　results　show　that　concrete　strengths　have　a　significant　effect　on　the　performance　of　core　walls;　opening　sizes　play　an　important　role　in　the　failure　of　coupling　beams　and　wall　piers;　with　the　use　of　double　coupling　beams,　the　ductility　of　core　walls　is　significantly　improved　while　their　load-carrying　capacity　is　just　slightly　reduced,　so　it　is　a　feasible　measure　improving　the　seismic　performance　of　concrete　core　walls.