The　shear-slip　is　easy　to　occur　at　the　bottom　construction　joint　of　the　shear　wall　with　single　row　of　steel　bars　when　it　is　subjected　to　horizontal　earthquake　action　under　low　axial　compression　ratio.　The　shear-slip　will　decrease　the　energy　dissipation　capacity　of　the　shear　wall.　The　phenomenon　can　be　avoided　successfully　by　setting　some　inclined　reinforcement　on　the　bottom　of　the　shear　wall.　In　order　to　investigate　the　effect　of　inclined　reinforcement,　placed　in　the　shear　wall　limbs　and　coupling　beam,　on　the　failure　mechanism　and　seismic　behavior　of　RC　coupled　shear　walls　with　single　row　of　steel　bars,　three　1/2　scaled　models　subjected　to　low-cycle　reversed　loading　were　tested.　Comparative　analysis　on　failure　modes,　hysteresis　property,　load-carrying　capacity,　ductility,　stiffness　and　energy　dissipation　capacity　between　specimens　with　inclined　reinforcement　and　normal　specimen　was　carried　out.　The　results　show　that　when　the　total　amount　of　reinforcement　of　the　shear　wall　limbs　is　constant,　setting　inclined　reinforcement　on　the　bottom　of　shear　wall　limbs　not　only　can　increase　the　ductility　and　energy　dissipation　of　shear　wall,　but　also　has　an　influence　on　its　failure　mechanism.　When　the　amount　of　web　reinforcement　of　the　shear　wall　limbs　is　constant,　adding　inclined　reinforcement　on　the　bottom　of　shear　wall　limbs　and　coupling　beam　will　obviously　improve　the　ductility　and　energy　dissipation　capacity　of　the　shear　wall.　©　2016,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Building　Structures.　All　right　reserved.