In this paper, an automatic adaptation of equivalent single layer and layerwise models in any region of the domain is devised using a simple modeling error estimator. The interelement jumps are used to define the modeling error indicator. The proposed modeling error indicator is found to be robust and methodology is very effective in reducing the modeling error. An initially damaged laminate is analysed for adaptive selection of models. The concept of sublayers introduced is found to be very effective to control the modeling error. Copyright © 2007 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.