In the present paper a nonlinear finite element code based on the updated Lagrangian approach will be developed for the analysis of the crushing behavior of structural elements and some numerical examples will be presented in order to show the validity of the present algorithm. Several features of the developed code are : 1. The bilinear degenerate shell element with reduced integration is employed. 2. The hourglass control stiffness proposed by Flanagan and Belytschko and in-plane rotational stiffness due to Kanok-Nukulchai are added to the element stiffness. 3. The virtual work equation is expressed in terms of the updated Green strains and the updated Kirchhoff stresses and the calculated Kirchhoff stress increments are transformed into the Jaumann stress increments at each incremental step. In this transformation the normal strain in the thickness direction is determined so as to maintain the plane stress condition. In numerical examples the post-buckling behavior of axially loaded elastic and elasto-plastic columns are analized and the calculated load-deflection curves are checked against the exact solution and experimental results. The crushing behavior of axially compressed circular cylindrical shells is also calculated, and the obtained results are compared with experimental results.