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This study conducts an experimental and numerical investigation of failure mechanisms of variable thickness composite laminates with asymmetric structural forms under quasi-static compressive loading. A new 3-D finite element model (FEM) in ABAQUS/Explicit is established, where the Hashin criterion is used for composite laminate progressive failure analysis, and cohesive interface modeling is employed to simulate delamination initiation and dynamic propagation. According to the strain data from the experiment, the discontinuous neutral axis causes bending moments in the laminate, which are coupled with the axial compression load and interact together on the laminate. The FEM results indicate that there is a significant stress concentration at the junction of the thin section and the variable thickness section, and the stresses in the thin section are greater than those in the thick section. Delamination damage and fiber-matrix damage occurs at the junction, which is consistent with the findings of the experiment. The ultimate load estimated by FEM is 10.7% less than the average ultimate load measured by the experiment, demonstrating the model’s viability and rationality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]