Natural Fiber Composites Under Dynamic Loading: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanical Performance and Structural Integrity

Abstract

ABSTRACT Natural fiber composites (NFCs) are emerging as sustainable alternatives to synthetic composites due to their renewable origin, low density, and favorable mechanical performance. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of recent studies on the dynamic mechanical behavior and structural integrity of NFCs under impact, fatigue, vibration, and varying strain‐rate conditions. It examines how fiber type, matrix selection, fiber‐matrix interface treatments, hybridization strategies, and environmental aging govern stiffness retention, energy dissipation, damage progression, and long‐term durability. The review highlights the role of chemical and physical fiber modifications, as well as nano‐reinforcements, in enhancing interfacial adhesion, moisture resistance, and thermo‐mechanical stability. Hybrid natural‐synthetic fiber composites are shown to improve fatigue life and impact performance while maintaining sustainability targets. Key insights reveal that NFCs exhibit strain‐rate‐sensitive behavior, strongly influenced by fiber architecture, interfacial bonding, and microstructural heterogeneity. Critical challenges persist, including the lack of standardized dynamic testing protocols, limited understanding of fatigue‐aging interactions under hydrothermal conditions, and underdeveloped predictive models for coupled degradation processes. Addressing these gaps through multiscale modeling, real‐time damage monitoring, and sustainable material design is essential to enable the reliable deployment of NFCs in dynamically loaded structural applications, supporting both high‐performance engineering and eco‐efficient composite development.