Abstract. This paper presents an application of refined one-dimensional (1D) models to the static and free vibration analysis of thin-walled layered structures. Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF) is employed to easily introduce higher-order 1D models with a variable order of expansion for the displacement unknowns over the beam cross-section. Classical Euler-Bernoulli beam theory is obtained as a particular case of these variable kinematic models while a higher-order expansion permits the detection of the in-plane cross-section deformation. Finite element (FE) method is used to provide numerical results. In particular, the case of a deformable clamped-clamped thin-walled layered cylinder loaded by a non-uniform internal pressure is discussed. The static analysis reveals the model capabilities in accurately describing the three-dimensional deformation of the cylinder. The free vibration analysis provides results not detectable by typical 1D models in excellent agreement with a solid (3D) FE solution. The present models do not introduce additional numerical problems with respect to classical beam theories. Moreover, the results clearly show that finite elements which are formulated in the CUF framework offer shell-type capabilities in analyzing thin-walled structures with a remarkable reduction in the computational cost required.