Abstract: This study aims to investigate the effect of winding layer crack on the burst performance of a carbon fiber composite cylinder with an aluminum liner. The composite cylinders for testing were designed and prepared. Axial crack was prefabricated on the winding layer of the cylinder, and the burst test was carried out. The burst strength and failure characteristics of the cylinder with axial crack were obtained, and the results were compared with that of the cylinder without crack. A burst strength and failure mode analysis model based on progressive damage and extended finite element method was established. The burst simulation results of the cylinders with and without axial crack are in good agreement with the experiments. The influence of the crack on the stresses in the fiber direction of the elements along the axial and circumferential paths in the outermost and innermost winding layers of the cylinder was discussed. And the influence of axial crack parameters on the stress distribution and burst performance of the cylinder was analyzed. With the increase of crack depth, the failure area of the winding layer of the cylinder increases, and the influence of crack depth on the reduction degree of the burst pressure first increases and then decreases; with the increase of crack length, the failure area of the winding layer of the cylinder increases, and the influence of crack length on the reduction degree of the burst pressure decreases gradually; with the increase of crack quantity, the failure area of the winding layer of the cylinder increases, and the influence of crack quantity on the reduction degree of the burst pressure decreases; the change of crack location in the winding layer of the cylindrical part of the cylinder has little influence on the failure area of the winding layer and the burst pressure.