Mechanical and Microwave-Absorbing Properties of Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Fiber Composites: Advances in Theoretical Research

Carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced fiber composites show great promise in aerospace and defense due to their lightweight nature, high strength-toughness balance, and broadband microwave absorption. This review systematically examines the mechanical reinforcement and wave-absorption mechanisms in CNT composites. We focus on the key challenge of synergizing mechanical and electromagnetic performance, analyzing recent advances in multiscale modeling and intelligent optimization algorithms. Research shows that CNT dispersion morphology, alignment, and content critically control material properties: randomly dispersed CNTs enhance interlaminar strength through balanced interfacial stress, while axially aligned CNTs improve mechanical load-bearing. Magnetic-CNT heterointerface designs optimize impedance matching and energy dissipation for broadband absorption. Molecular dynamics-finite element coupled models and multi-objective optimization algorithms reveal dynamic links between microstructures and macro-properties, providing a theoretical framework for dual-functional "mechano-electromagnetic" materials. Future work must address bottlenecks in nanoscale characterization accuracy, cross-scale design, and environmental adaptability to advance industrial applications of load-bearing microwave-absorbing composites.