The　failure　behaviour　of　T700/603　carbon　fibre/epoxy　composite　laminates　subject　to　pre-load　and　laser　irradiation　was　tested.　The　effect　of　main　parameters　on　failure　time　of　specimens　has　been　studied.　Specimens　with　different　thickness　were　kept　in　tension　or　compression　pre-load　using　a　specially　designed　load　holding　device.　Meanwhile,　CO2　continuous　wave　laser　beam　was　irradiated　on　specimens　until　they　were　damaged.　Through　the　experiments,　we　obtained　the　relationship　between　the　failure　time　of　the　specimen　and　the　pre-load　is　approximately　linear　when　the　laser　power　density　and　the　thickness　were　constant;　the　relationship　between　the　failure　time　of　the　specimen　and　the　laser　power　density　is　approximately　exponential　when　the　pre-load　and　the　thickness　were　unchanged;　the　relationship　between　the　failure　time　of　the　specimen　and　the　thickness　is　approximately　quadratic　function　when　the　pre-load　and　the　laser　power　density　were　fixed.　The　failure　mechanism　of　the　pre-tension　specimen　is　different　from　that　of　the　pre-compression　specimen.　In　the　pre-tension　experiment,　the　pre-tension　specimen　was　pulled　off　in　a　spallation,　whereas　it　collapsed　by　delaminating　and　buckling　in　the　pre-compression　experiment.　The　fitting　equations　present　a　prediction　of　lifespan　of　the　carbon/epoxy　composite-laminated　structures　subject　to　pre-load　and　laser　irradiation.　©　W.　S.　Maney　&　Son　Ltd　2015.