This　paper　presents　a　new　modeling　method　for　single-layer　cylindrical　reticulated　shells,　including　real　sized　spherical　joints　based　on　S4R　(ABAQUS)　shell　elements.　The　proposed　joint　model　is　able　to　simulate　the　loadcarrying　capacity　well　when　the　joint　is　under　the　combined　action　of　axial　force　and　bending　moment.　In　order　to　reduce　the　workload　of　modeling,　all　of　the　joints　use　the　same　mesh　type　and　the　total　number　of　elements　is　controlled.　Before　it　is　used　in　models　of　actual　structures,　the　proposed　shell　element　joint　model　is　tested　against　some　benchmarks.　Nine　types　of　joint　models　are　considered　and　the　type　that　produces　results　closest　to　previous　experiments　and　continuum　element　analysis　results　is　the　better　choice,　however　the　number　of　shell　elements　included　in　the　model　affects　the　calculation　time　and　this　is　an　important　limitation.　The　type　of　model　that　is　chosen　meets　both　the　requirements　of　precision　and　calculation　time.　A　reticulated　shell　model　that　includes　such　shell　element　joints　is　used　in　a　seismic　response　analysis,　and　the　results　show　that　the　effect　of　joint　stiffness　on　the　seismic　response　of　the　structure　is　large　enough　to　be　important.