Nonlinear response structural optimization is performed using equivalent loads (NROEL). Nonlinear response optimization is extremely cost because many nonlinear analyses are required. In NROEL, the external loads are transformed to the equivalent loads (EL) for linear static analysis and linear response optimization is carried out based on the EL in a cyclic manner until the convergence criteria are satisfied. EL is the load set which generates the same response field of linear analysis as that of nonlinear analysis. The primitive from of theory has been published. In this research, the theory is investigated with large scale example problems. Four examples are solved by using NROEL. Conventional optimization with sensitivity analysis using the finite difference method (FDM) is also applied to the same examples. Moreover, response surface optimization method is applied to the last two examples. The results of the optimizations are compared. In nonlinear response optimization of large scale problems, hundreds (or even thousands) of nonlinear analyses are expected to satisfy the convergence criteria. However, in nonlinear response optimization using equivalent loads, only tens of nonlinear analyses are required. The results are discussed and the usefulness of NROEL is presented.