Abstract: The axial tensile failure mechanism of carbon fiber/epoxy composite winding joint was studied by means of experiment and simulation. Based on ABAQUS, the continuum damage model and cohesive zone model were used to simulate each part and interface of the carbon fiber/epoxy composite winding joint, respectively. The progressive damage model of the carbon fiber/epoxy composite was established by writing user-defined material subroutine(UMAT). As a result, the stress distribution and load-displacement curve of the carbon fiber/epoxy composite winding joint were obtained and the failure mechanism of the structure was determined by comparison with the experimental results. The results show that the calculated damage position and failure modes of the carbon fiber/epoxy composite winding joint agree well with the experimental results, and the difference between the calculated value and test value of the failure load is small, which proves the validity of the simulation analysis method. By comparing the failure modes, it is found that under tensile load, the loop plies are the main bearing component, and the curved end of which is the position where the stress is concentrated. The fiber fracture starts from here and gradually spreads outward until the loop plies fracture, which leads to the structural damage.