The　distribution　of　carbon　nanotube　(CNT)　reinforcements　in　fundamental　material　may　form　functionally　graded　CNT　structures　(FG-CNT).　To　simulate　the　FG-CNT　structures　at　large　deformation,　four　typical　CNT　distribution　patterns　were　considered,　i.　e.,　uniform,　V-shaped,　O-shaped　and　X-shaped.　A　geometrically　nonlinear　model　was　built　based　on　the　plate　and　shell　theory　of　Reissner-Mindlin　hypothesis.　The　nonlinear　model　includes　not　only　the　fully　geometrically　nonlinear　strain-displacement　relations,　but　also　the　large　rotations　of　the　shell　structure　in　normal　direction.　The　proposed　approach　was　first　validated　through　the　comparison　with　the　literature　results.　Then,　it　was　applied　to　solve　the　large　deformations　of　FG-CNT　reinforced　composite　structures,　aiming　at　the　study　of　the　impact　of　CNT　on　the　stiffness　design　of　composite　plates.　The　results　illustrate　that　the　CNT　distributions　and　reinforcement　orientations　have　a　remarkable　influence　on　the　mechanical　properties　of　FG-CNT　composite　plates.　©　2021,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Vibration　and　Shock.　All　right　reserved.