<p>Based on the fundamental principles of the thermodynamics of irreversible processes and continuum damage mechanics, this paper describes and experimentally substantiates a generalized phenomenological model of damage accumulation kinetics for fiber-reinforced composite materials. The main mechanisms of damage development are systematically analyzed: in the fibers, in the matrix, and due to shear within and between the layers of the composite. In doing so, the technological features of layer placement, the angle of inclination of the reinforcing fibers, and the sequence of their arrangement are considered. The introduction of threshold mechanisms for the initiation of various types of damage at the micro- and meso-levels of the reinforced composite, in conjunction with power-law and exponential patterns of their accumulation, allows for an adequate reproduction of the characteristic stages of this complex and multifaceted process, namely: initiation, stable growth, and accelerated degradation of the structure. To determine the parameters of the damageability model, a framework for experimental studies was developed that allows for the quantitative characterization of the composite’s initial physical and mechanical properties and the evolution of its damageability under static and cyclic loading. A series of experimental studies on the damage behavior of the reinforced composite under various lamination schemes was conducted. This allows, by varying the orientation and sequence of layers, to specifically identify the dominant damage mechanisms (fiber, matrix, shear, and interlaminar).</p>