<p>In this paper, a finite element model based on continuum damage mechanics was developed to investigate the load transfer and damage progression mechanisms of ply-interleaved composite laminates subjected to tensile loading. Hashin criterion and a gradual degradation scheme were used to predict the intralaminar damage initiation and evolution, which were coded and integrated into the commercial finite element package ABAQUS/Explicit through a user-defined VUMAT material subroutine. Synchronously, an interface cohesive element was utilized to predict the interlaminar delamination damage. To verify the proposed model, quasi-static tensile tests were performed on specimens with different interruption distances. The results showed that with the increasing interruption distance, the failure load, failure displacement, and stiffness of the specimens decrease. A good agreement was achieved between the experimental and simulation results in terms of load-displacement response and damage morphology, validating the predictive capability of the model. Furthermore, the load transfer mechanism and damage evolution process of ply-interleaving composite laminates under tensile loading were clearly revealed. This work will pave the way for the engineering application of ply-interleaving composite structures.</p>