The　in-plane　mechanical　properties　of　aluminium　beams　under　cyclic　bending　were　analyzed　and　contrasted　to　those　of　steel　beams.　In　order　to　carry　out　research　on　in-plane　seismic　performance　of　aluminium　beams,　a　finite　element　analysis　method　was　presented.　The　method　was　based　on　general　FEA　software,　ANSYS.　The　analysis　method　considered　the　effects　of　material　nonlinearity　and　geometrical　nonlinearity.　On　this　basis,　hysteretic　curves　and　reversal　skeleton　curves　of　6061-T6　aluminium　beams,　6061-T4　aluminium　beams　and　Q235　steel　beams　under　cyclic　bending　were　get　and　contrasted.　The　analysis　shows　that　the　in-plane　seismic　performance　of　the　aluminium　beams　is　similar　with　the　low　carbon　steel　beams　and　is　notably　influenced　by　material　properties.　©　(2014)　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.