Summary: A first attempt is made to review the advances of the formulations for thin shell finite elements in the form of flat plates, axisymmetrical shells and curved shells. The discrete Kirchhoff theory shell elements and the degenerated shell elements are discussed. Experiences in shear and membrane lockings are elaborated. The survey is further illustrated with some extensions and applications to cases such as static and dynamic responses, static and dynamic bucklings, laminated composites, random loadings and random structural and material properties. In all cases, studies of the effects of geometric and material nonlinearities are discussed.