A review is made on the dierent methods used for the estimation of transverse/interlaminar stresses in laminated composite plates and shells. Both analytical and numerical methods are considered. In numerical methods while the emphasis is given on ®nite element methods, other methods like the ®nite dierence method is also brie¯y discussed. Aspects considered are: eects of variation in geometric and material parameters, transverse shear and normal deformation, interface stress continuity and the interfacial bonding on the accuracy of prediction of transverse/interlaminar stresses. Finally some general conclusions are presented along with future directions of research on the analysis of multilayered composite plates and shells for free-edge eects.