Abstract: Based on particle discrete element method (DEM), combined with the characteristics of member structures, a DEM model is proposed for member structures analysis. The calculated and modified formulas of the mass and the moment of inertia of the particle are presented and the spring contact stiffness expression for analysis of member structures was derived based on the principle of energy equivalence. Rayleigh damping was adopted to account for the effect of structural damping and the formula of damping constant was given and verified. According to its application in structural elastic analysis such as spatial frame under seismic action and single-layer reticulated shells subjected to impact loads, the calculation results agree well with the finite element method (FEM). The DEM takes dynamic and geometric nonlinear analysis under consideration automatically during solving the equations of motion without assembling stiffness matrixes and iterations during nonlinear analysis. Therefore, the presented DEM is reliable in dealing with large deformation and dynamic nonlinear problems, especially for the analysis of structures with strong nonlinearity.