Abstract This study focuses on the development of a plate-shell element using the vector form intrinsic finite element (VFIFE) method to analyze the structural behavior of thin shell structure subjected to various exerting forces. The shell element employed here is the flat three-node triangular shell element proposed by Bathe and Ho, which is obtained by superimposing CST (constant strain triangle) element with DKT (discrete Kirchhoff theory) triangular plate element. The nodal coordinates, displacements, rotations, and the motion equations of the structure are defined in a fixed global set of coordinates. The strains of the shell element, the element internal nodal forces and the element stiffness matrix are defined in terms of co-rotational coordinates, which are corresponding to the configuration of the shell element. Based on the co-rotational coordinate principle, the nodal displacement between two adjacent time steps can be separated into displacements induced from rigid body motion or deformation, and the incremental internal nodal forces can also be obtained. Finally, following the Newton's 2nd law, the equations of motion can be built to analyze the dynamic responses of thin shell structures. The theory derived in this study, were further verified to be able to simulate the behavior of thin shell structures subjected to both static and dynamic loadings. This new analytical model was proved to be an effective tool that can be an alternertive to traditional finite element procedure to solve for complicated engineering problems in thin shell structures.