A fiber-reinforced composite material axially stretchable between retracted and extended positions, the material comprising: a matrix having a first modulus of elasticity; and a core comprising fabric having a side edge and a longitudinal axis parallel to the side edge, the fabric being encapsulated in the matrix, the fabric comprising first fibers interlaced with second fibers, the first fibers being in a non-parallel orientation relative to the longitudinal axis, and the second fibers being in a non-parallel orientation relative to the first fibers when the material is in the retracted position, wherein at least the first fibers have a second modulus of elasticity greater than the first modulus of elasticity and exceeding approximately 0.14 Mbar (2 Mpsi); wherein the composite material is configured to stretch and move away from the retracted position toward the extended positions upon application of an axial load parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the matrix is configured to elastically deform when the composite material moves toward the extended position, wherein the composite material has a non-linear stress curve relative to elongation of the composite material between the retracted and extended positions, and wherein the composite material is configured so movement of the composite material toward the extended position causes the first and second fibers (34, 36) to rotate relative to each other and in a direction toward alignment with the longitudinal axis, the first and second fibers (34, 36) are configured to rotate relative to each other as the composite material moves toward the extended position, and the first and second fibers are blocked from further rotation toward an orientation parallel with an axial direction of the load and/or the longitudinal axis of the composite material when the composite material is in the extended position with the first or second fibers (34, 36) reacting the applied axial load, and the matrix material biasing the composite material toward the retracted position, wherein the fabric has an angular offset configuration when the fabric is encapsulated in the matrix. a matrix having a first modulus of elasticity; and a core comprising fabric having a side edge and a longitudinal axis parallel to the side edge, the fabric being encapsulated in the matrix, the fabric comprising first fibers interlaced with second fibers, the first fibers being in a non-parallel orientation relative to the longitudinal axis, and the second fibers being in a non-parallel orientation relative to the first fibers when the material is in the retracted position, wherein at least the first fibers have a second modulus of elasticity greater than the first modulus of elasticity and exceeding approximately 0.14 Mbar (2 Mpsi); wherein the composite material is configured to stretch and move away from the retracted position toward the extended positions upon application of an axial load parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the matrix is configured to elastically deform when the composite material moves toward the extended position, wherein the composite material has a non-linear stress curve relative to elongation of the composite material between the retracted and extended positions, and wherein the composite material is configured so movement of the composite material toward the extended position causes the first and second fibers (34, 36) to rotate relative to each other and in a direction toward alignment with the longitudinal axis, the first and second fibers (34, 36) are configured to rotate relative to each other as the composite material moves toward the extended position, and the first and second fibers are blocked from further rotation toward an orientation parallel with an axial direction of the load and/or the longitudinal axis of the composite material when the composite material is in the extended position with the first or second fibers (34, 36) reacting the applied axial load, and the matrix material biasing the composite material toward the retracted position, wherein the fabric has an angular offset configuration when the fabric is encapsulated in the matrix.