International audienceThis paper presents an experimental damage analysis of a 5-harness satin weave carbon-PPS (PolyPhenylene Sulphide) composite under uni-axial static tensile load. In order to understand the local damage behaviour, tensile tests were performed and accompanied by acoustic emission (AE) and microscopic analysis of the composite specimen. These tests enable us to detect the damage initiation stress as well as the damage initiation location in the composite. Microscopic observation of the tested composite laminates allowed the characterization of the sequence of intra-yarn transverse damage (perpendicular to the load direction) occurrence at different locations in the laminate, starting from crack initiation to the final failure of the composite
