Abstract: Based on the analytical trial function method, a new beam-shell element is developed for the analysis of short-leg shear walls and tie-beams. The proposed element is constructed directly in the Cartesian coordinate system. In order to obtain high-order assumed displacement fields, some basic analytical solutions for elastic planar problems are taken as the trial functions, and the deformation characteristics of short-leg shear walls and tie-beams are also considered. Numerical examples show that the resulting element model possesses better precision in the analysis of various engineering structures of the short-leg shear wall and tie-beam, and it is insensitive to mesh the distortion caused by the aspect ratio. It also demonstrates that the present strategy is an effective way for developing high performance finite element models with simple formulations.