Abstract: The softened truss model is essentially an equivalent element method, in which the response of reinforced concrete (RC) members under shear is calculated with the modified constitutive laws of materials. This method cannot directly calculate the real internal stress and the calculation is complicated. Based on the truss model considering the effect of bond stress, another method was proposed to directly calculate the response of RC membrane elements under shear without using modified constitutive relations of steel and concrete. The maximum stress in the concrete and steel bars was first calculated upon the truss model considering the bond stress. The principal compressive strain of the element was calculated upon the constitutive relationship of plain concrete. The relationship between the maximum tensile stress in the steel and the principal tensile strain of the member was established. The comparison between the analytical and the experimental results shows that the method proposed can well predict the strain of RC membrane elements under shear, and directly judges the failure of the element through the maximum stress in the steel bar and concrete. In addition, the deformation characteristics of different failure modes can be clearly reflected from the predicted stress-strain curves. This method has clear physical meaning and simple calculation process. It can be applied to the calculation of the response of RC membrane elements under shear, making the failure process of the element easily understood.