Abstract: A displacement field of laminated composite plates and shells is presented and used to establish the motion equations of laminates subjected to mechanical loading and thermal loading. The displacement field ensures the continuity of displacements and transverse shear stresses at each interface and includes the influence of transverse shear deformation on the response of laminates. The number of displacement variables and motion equations is five as in the first-order shear deformation theory. Examples of transient response are given to verify the accuracy of the present method.