Abstract: Based on the theory of non-geodesic winding and fiber slippage, it was proposed to use non-geodesic winding to form integrated composite drive shafts. Multiple groups of variable-angle composite drive shafts with different proportions of transition zone were designed, and the torsion performance and failure mechanism of the drive shafts were deeply studied by finite element analysis and torsional experiment. The results show that the greater the proportion of the transition zone with variable angles, the better the torsional performance of the drive shafts. The transition zone increases from 20% to 80%, the failure load of the drive shafts increases by 111%, and the peak load increases by 90.7%. With the increase in the proportion of the transition zone, the damage failure caused by buckling deformation is effectively alleviated, and the damage angle is reduced by 54.5%. According to the finite element simulation and torsional experiment analysis, it can be concluded that the increase of the fiber angle in the transition zone suppresses the buckling deformation and reduces mechanical conduction failure on the interface caused by delamination damage. As a result, it improves the bearing capacity of the drive shafts.