Many analytical techniques have been developed for the inelastic analysis of multi-storey framed structures subjected to earthquake excitations. Most of these analyses have ignored the influence of the geometric effects due to the large lateral displacements on the response of the structure. However, there has been an increasing interest recently in these second order effects and, in particular, their consequences for the design of the column members in the frame. This paper describes the modification of an inelastic frame analysis to include the effects of large displacements and then the application
to three typical New Zealand concrete structures subjected to a variety of earthquake excitations. Comparisons are then made with results obtained from analyses ignoring these effects. The results are then reviewed in order to determine the nature of the problems, to determine when these second order effects should be considered and discusses methods of limiting these displacements.