Аннотация:On the base of the analysis of results of experimental studies, an approach to the characterization of different nonlinear effects in the behavior of fibrous composite materials is proposed. One of them is concerned usually observed in experimental studies the dependence of deformation properties of composite materials on the type of external forces. To describe this effect, the corresponding constitutive relations are proposed where instead the matrix of constant anisotropic coefficients, the set of anisotropic functions is introduced. the shear stress-strain curves are nonlinear and the curvature of diagrams depends on the extent of shear strain, though they are linear ones when the load is applied along the reinforcement. To describe this effect, the additional scalar parameter is introduced into the constitutive relations that is related with a matrix characterizing the shear deformation. The third type of nonlinearity is concerned the damage evolution and its influence on the stiffness characteristics that determines the fracture properties of composite materials. To describe the damage accumulation process, the system of general failure model assumptions is formulated.