The effect of panel zone (PZ) flexibility and yielding on the stiffness and strength of steel moment resisting frames (SMRF) has been the topic of numerous papers over the past thirty years. When properly detailed, the PZ is an excellent source of energy dissipation, even under large inelastic deformations. Due to these large inelastic deformations, the PZ region may also be a weak link in steel moment frame behavior. Because of the importance of PZ deformation in the behavior of steel frames, accurate modeling of this region is critical. Two of the most commonly used mathematical models for representing PZ behavior are investigated. They are referred to herein as the Krawinkler model and the Scissors model. From the literature review conducted at the beginning of this study, it was determined that there were no PZ models available that accounted for the elastic drift associated with PZ flexure which could be used in computer representations using commercial software that is currently available. This thesis details the analytical work used to establish the estimated elastic drift associated with PZ flexure and a method to include this estimated drift and the contribution of continuity plates in the Krawinkler and Scissors models. This study is initially focused on elastic deformations of individual structural subassemblages. First, formulas are derived to account for each major elastic component of drift in an individual subassemblage. The results from these derivations were implemented into a computer program named PANELS to allow for rapid calculation of the estimated drifts. Then, the properties (elastic and inelastic) for the Krawinkler and Scissors models are derived in their entirety. The Krawinkler model's results are compared to the results from PANELS, neglecting the PZ flexural component in PANELS and any inelastic contributions in the Krawinkler model. Since the Krawinkler model does not include PZ flexure, this established that the derived formulas accounted for all the remaining sources of elastic strain energy, assuming that the Krawinkler model is accurate. The results from PANELS are compared to those from finite element models developed using ABAQUS. Using the ABAQUS results, a method for determining the elastic drift associated with PZ flexure in PANELS is presented. A detailed inelastic study of the Krawinkler and Scissors models is then conducted both on the subassemblage level and on full structural frames to determine any differences associated with them. First, the two models are compared to each other on a subassemblage level to ensure that they both give the same results. Then, both PZ models are included in multiple full structural frames using various design configurations and loading conditions to ascertain their differences. Initially it was believed that there would be a large disparity between the two models. This study shows that there is actually little difference between the two models, although the kinematics of the Scissors model is still questionable. Elastic and inelastic comparisons between the PANELS formulas (elastic) and the ABAQUS models (elastic and inelastic) and data collected from tests performed at Lehigh University by Dr. James Ricles are then presented. This was done to show that the ABAQUS models and the PANELS formulas (including the PZ flexural component) give an accurate estimation of the drift of a subassemblage. The results from these comparisons show that the modeling techniques used are accurate and not including PZ flexural component of drift will cause the overall drift estimate to be unconservative. Finally, a method of including the elastic component of drift attributed to PZ flexure and continuity plates in both models is presented. The Ricles' Lehigh test data is again used in an inelastic comparison between the original Krawinkler and Scissors models and their updated counterparts. These comparisons show that including this component enables both the Krawinkler and Scissors models to more accurately estimate the total drift of an individual subassemblage. / Master of Science