Some aspects of pin loaded laminates, including basic kinematics related to the contact angle and moving boundary, validity and applicability of cosine distribution of contact stress, effects of stiffness ratios as well as clearance and friction are presented. Numerical results on the basis of a previously developed direct boundary element procedure, with a refined and improved computational algorithm with additional capabilities are given and used for discussing various aspects of pin-loaded orthotropic laminates. Empirical formulas based on generated computer results are suggested. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.