SUMMARYA new computational scheme, named the 'Integrated Load Increment' method (ILI), has been developed to handle elasto-plastic analysis of solids by the finite element variational technique. This scheme allows considerably larger loading steps to be applied to the structure without deviating from its nonlinear, load-deformation relationship. It has been shown that these relationships can be evaluated by integrating the nonlinear constitutive equations within each load increment under certain conditions. A numerical example on a pressurized thick-walled. cylinder indicates that a 240 per cent improvement in computational efficiency and substantial reduction of loading steps over the conventional load incremental method can be achieved by the ILI technique.