Abstract: A multiple laminate comprises at least one laminate which is tapered at one or both ends to provide a laminate joint structure having a coupling tensile strength greater than the laminate interlaminar shear strength. The laminate joint structure contains at least one tapered laminate ply support structure containing continuous filament strands oriented parallel to the coupling load direction. The tubular laminate form of the tapered end laminate joint structure finds particular application to mechanically joined structures such as pipe and trusses.The method and apparatus for making the laminate in the form of a desired composite structure comprises winding a first ply of circumferentially oriented continuous filament strands upon a mandrel and forming the ends of the first ply to have sufficient thickness to provide an inwardly tapered conical shaped exterior surface.