Abstract: Transient response analysis of structures under seismicload is important in a seismic design. Most earthquake effect studies use time domain numerical integration methods. The method of reverberationray matrix is a novel frequency domain matrix method for transient analysisof trusses and frames. Based on Bernoulli beam theory, the present workextends the reverberation ray matrix method to the case of groundacceleration loads. The calculation of a piece of steel framesubjected to the ground El Centro acceleration wave demonstrates that the methodcan be used to analyze the earthquake effect of structure accurately and effectively.