Abstract Replaceable steel coupling beams (RSCB) have been proposed as an alternative to conventional reinforced concrete (RC) coupling beams for enhanced seismic resiliency of coupled wall systems. This paper presents a series of quasi-static tests conducted to examine the seismic behavior of RSCBs with RC slabs and to identify reasonable slab configurations that can minimize the damage to RC slabs. A total of five large-scale specimens were designed and tested. The first four specimens adopted the same end plate link-to-beam connection but adopted different types of RC slabs, including a composite slab, bearing slab, isolated slab or slotted slab. The fifth specimen adopted splice plate link-to-beam connection and a bearing slab. The test results indicate that all specimens developed a large inelastic rotation capacity of more than 0.05 rad with stable hysteretic response. The presence of RC slabs is found to have limited effect on the shear strength and inelastic rotation capacity of RSCBs. Some types of RC slabs increased the initial elastic stiffness of RSCBs, but in the plastic stage, none of the slabs affected the loading or unloading stiffness. Among those four types of slabs, the composite slab suffered the most significant damage, as a result of pulling out of shear studs and subsequent pouching failure of the slab. Compared with the bearing slab or slotted slab, the isolated slab developed much fewer and smaller cracks, which should allow for easier repair. Based on the observations of this test and previous tests, four damage states for RSCBs were identified, corresponding to different repair methods. Fragility curves of RSCBs at various damage states were developed, which can provide the criteria for seismic performance assessment of RSCBs.