Abstract : This paper discusses the theoretical development of a computer program for the static and dynamic analysis of general shell structures. The theory is based on the finite element concept and uses both the generalized finite element method and the direct stiffness method to form the pertinent equations. The treatment of shell surface geometry, the displacement functions and elemental degrees of freedom, and the modification of the generalized stiffness method required for the implementation of the triangular element are described. The correlation of both theoretical and experimental results with those obtained by the present method are shown along with idealizations required for accurate results. Static and dynamic solution results are compared,