The aim of the work summarized in this paper is the theoretical modell
ing of laminated composite shells of arbitrary shape, in order to: imp
rove the calculus of shear stresses, and especially to avoid shear cor
rection factors; account for continuity conditions of displacements an
d transverse shear stresses at layer interfaces as well as compatibili
ty conditions of transverse shear stresses on the bonding surfaces; es
timate the relevance of shear refinements, of membrane refinements and
of the transverse stretching beyond standard kinematics; and to analy
se the sensitivity to edge effects for significant boundary conditions
.