Abstract: The method for analyzing ultimate load capacity of steel curved beam with degenerated three-dimensional solid virtual laminated beam element is presented. With the influence of geometrical and material nonlinearity considered, the computing of ultimate load capacity for steel curved beam is programmed with the element. The program is used to analyze ultimate load capacity for steel curved beam. Numerical results show the advantages of the element such as fast convergence, good stability and high precision. Because the limitation of shell elements or beam segment elements are overcome,the method has better universality.