Studies have been carried out on the damage evolution in a typical plain weave fabric composite under transverse central static loading. The stress state has been evaluated throughout the composite plate using finite element analysis software. Possible failure of layers because of in-plane stresses and the delamination mode of failure at the interfaces because of interlaminar stresses have been monitored. It has been observed that the damage initiation and propagation is because of in-plane stresses. The shape of the damage is quasi-lemniscate. Experimental studies have been carried out on a typical plain weave fabric E-glass-epoxy laminate. There is a good match between the predicted and the experimentally observed damage shapes and sizes.KEY WORDS: woven fabric composite, plain weave fabric, transverse static loading, in-plane failure.