This paper is a study on the experiment and elasto-plastic discrete limit analysis of reinforced concrete circular cylindrical shell by the rigid-bodies spring model. In the rigid bodies-spring model, each collapsed part or piece of structures at the limiting state of loading is assumed to behave like rigid bodies. The present author propose new discrete elements for elasto-plastic analysis of cylindrical shell structures, that is, a rectangular-shaped cylindrical element and a rhombus-shaped cylindrical element for the improvement and expansion of this rigid-bodies spring model. In this study, it is proposed how this rigid element-bodies spring model can be applied to the elasto-plastic discrete limit analysis of cylindrical shell structures. Some numerical results of elasto-plastic discrete limit analysis and experimental results such as the curve of load-displacement and the yielding and fracturing pattern of circular cylindrical shell under horizontal load are shown.