Layered　materials　and　structures　(LMS),　such　as　van　der　Waals　two-dimensional　(2D)　layered　materials　and　nacre-like　layered　structures,　often　exhibit　highly　anisotropic　mechanical　properties,　i.e.,　strong　in　in-plane　directions　but　weak　in　out-of-plane　direction.　Despite　the　strong　anisotropy　in　their　mechanical　properties,　Timoshenko　beam　model　(TBM)　is　usually　used　to　describe　the　bending　deformation　of　LMS.　We　note,　however,　that　there　are　two　fundamental　issues　in　using　TBM　to　describe　LMS:　First,　the　stiffness　of　LMS　approaches　zero　when　the　interlayer　shear　modulus　G　approaches　zero;　and　second,　the　first　derivative　of　deflection　becomes　discontinuous　at　the　point　of　concentrated　force.　Clearly,　both　are　not　true　for　LMS.　In　this　work,　by　introducing　the　bending　energy　of　monolayer　into　the　potential　energy　of　TBM,　we　develop　a　modified　Timoshenko　beam　model　(MTBM),　which　is　able　to　not　only　address　these　two　issues,　but　also　correctly　predict　the　bending　stiffness　of　LMS　without　any　fitting　parameters.　Our　analysis　shows　that　the　bending　behaviors　of　LMS　are　determined　by　a　dimensionless　parameter　λL,　where　L　is　the　length　of　the　beam　and　λ=kGAD0+kGA(nDbend),　where,　kGA　and　D0　are,　respectively,　the　shear　and　bending　rigidity　of　the　beam　cross-section,　Dbend　is　the　bending　rigidity　of　monolayer,　and　n　is　the　number　of　layer.　When　λL→0,　the　MTBM　degenerates　to　the　multi-beam　model　with　bending　stiffness　of　nDbend;　while　it　degenerates　to　the　TBM　whenλL→∞.　Furthermore,　if　kGA　is　much　larger　than　D0,　both　MTBM　and　TBM　degenerate　to　the　classical　Euler–Bernoulli　beam　model.　We　further　perform　molecular　dynamics　simulations,　finite　element　simulations　and　experiments　to　validate　the　MTBM.　Based　on　the　MTBM,　a　couple　of　interesting　applications　of　LMS　are　also　demonstrated.　Hence,　the　MTBM　presented　here　captures　the　necessary　intrinsic　deformation　modes　of　LMS　and　provides　an　accurate　tool　for　the　prediction　and　optimization　of　the　mechanical　properties　of　LMS.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd