A finite element based model for interrogation of the elastic and progressive failure response of textile based composite materials has been developed and implemented. The geometrically thorough textile geometry model is used as the basis for creation of the geometry used for the finite element analysis. A detailed assessment is made for the linear elastic response of a plain weave textile composite subjected to various boundary conditions and loadings. Hashin's failure criterion and a maximum stress criterion are employed to predict the failure of the yam and matrix material, respectively. A material degradation scheme is implemented to account for the decrease in the elastic constants of the material. The initiation and progression of failure within a plain weave textile composite has been predicted. / Ph. D.