Lap　splices　and　bar　cutoffs　introduce　reinforcement　discontinuities　in　reinforced　concrete　structures.　A　two-step　approach　was　used　to　investigate　the　effect　of　longitudinal　reinforcement　discontinuities　on　the　seismic　performance　of　reinforced　concrete　structural　walls.　In　the　first　step,　six　cyclic　tests　on　small-scale　reinforced　concrete　structural　walls　were　conducted　to　study　the　effect　of　bar　cutoffs.　Three　of　the　six　specimens　had　web　longitudinal　reinforcement　cutoffs　to　simulate　the　effects　of　a　retrofit　practice　used　in　Japan.　The　test　results　indicated　that　this　discontinuity　resulted　in　approximately　50%　increase　in　the　unit　tensile　strains　in　the　longitudinal　reinforcing　bars　in　boundary　elements.　Larger　unit　tensile　strains　caused　an　increase　in　permanent　strain　accumulation,　increasing　the　likelihood　of　bar　buckling.　In　the　second　step,　the　mentioned　test　results　were　combined　with　test　results　from　previous　tests　(that　investigated　discontinuities　related　to　lap　splices)　to　calibrate　equations　for　estimating　drift　capacity　of　structural　walls　with　and　without　reinforcement　discontinuities.　©　2020,　Springer　Nature　B.V.