A simplified model of three-dimensional (3D) braided composites with the transverse cracking is presented. By using the principleof minimum complementary energy, the stress components are obtained in closed-form expressions in terms of a perturbationfunction, which is governed by two fourth-order inhomogeneous ordinary differential equations. All possible expressions of thisperturbation function are obtained in closed forms. The effective Young_s modulus and Poisson ratio of 3D damaged braidedcomposites are calculated using the determined minimum complementary energy. To demonstrate the solution, some examples areanalyzed.