This paper concerns the development and implementation of an orthotropic, stress resultant elasto-plastic finite element model for the collapse load analysis of reinforced concrete plates. The model implements yield line plasticity theory for reinforced concrete. The behaviour of the yield functions are studied, and modifications introduced to ensure a robust finite element model of cases involving bending and twisting stress resultants ($M_x$, $M_y$, $M_{xy}$). Onset of plasticity is always governed by the general yield-line-model (YLM), but in some cases a switch to the stress resultant form of the von Mises function is used to ensure the proper evolution of plastic strains. Case studies are presented, involving isotropic and orthotropic plates, to assess the behaviour of the yield line approach. The YLM function is shown to perform extremely well, in predicting both the collapse loads and failure mechanisms.