The failure of textile composites is studied using a microvolume finite element model. The model
represents one unit cell that is periodically repeated within the fullscale structure. The unit cell is composed of
two interweaved bundles of continuous carbon fibres surrounded by epoxy resin. It is prepared as a parametric
model in CAD system NX and transferred to MSC.Marc. The appropriate periodic boundary conditions are
applied in the analysis using a custom Fortran subroutine. The calculated results comprise the homogenized
Young's and shear moduli, Poisson's ratios, and the strength as a function of loading direction in the case of
pure tension.