Composite self-healing system

Abstract

An advanced reflexive structure system is disclosed. The reflexive system mimics the pain withdrawal reflex on which the human body relies. The reflexive system incorporates a continuous health and performance monitoring system via an embedded dielectric film, an adaptive composite structure based on shape memory composite material, and an intelligence system which will be interfaced with both the health/performance sensors and the adaptive structure. When activated shape memory polymer will recover its structural integrity via shape recovery and a reptation healing process. These features enable the use of SMP as an adaptive structure in the proposed reflexive system. The development of a reflexive system for structures will enable increased safety and security and demonstrate a better understanding of integrated performance systems. This reflexive technology could find immediate implementation on all current and future systems and future implementation on platforms such as the International Space Station, Lunar, and Martian habitats.

1 . A method of healing a material comprising:
 a sensing means for detecting damage at a damaged point in a material;   a repair means for repairing said material at said damaged point; and   a control means for selectively activating the repair means at the damaged point.   
   
   
       2 . The method of healing a material of  claim 1  wherein said means for detecting damage is a continuous health and performance monitoring system. 
   
   
       3 . The method of healing a material of  claim 2  wherein said continuous health and performance monitoring system is an embedded piezoelectric sensor system. 
   
   
       4 . The method of healing a material of  claim 1  wherein said material is an adaptive composite structure. 
   
   
       5 . The method of healing a material of  claim 4  wherein said adaptive composite structure is a fibrous material in a dynamic elastic modulus resin matrix. 
   
   
       6 . The method of healing a material of  claim 5  wherein said dynamic elastic modulus resin matrix is a shape memory polymer matrix. 
   
   
       7 . The method of healing a material of  claim 1  wherein said material is an adaptive resin structure. 
   
   
       8 . The method of healing a material of  claim 7  wherein said adaptive resin structure is a dynamic elastic modulus resin matrix. 
   
   
       9 . The method of healing a material of  claim 8  wherein said dynamic elastic modulus resin matrix is a shape memory polymer matrix. 
   
   
       10 . The method of healing a material of  claim 1  wherein said repair means activates and deactivates a self-healing mechanism in said material. 
   
   
       11 . The method of healing a material of  claim 10  wherein said self-healing mechanism is activated and deactivated with thermal energy. 
   
   
       12 . The method of healing a material of  claim 10  wherein said self-healing mechanism is activated and deactivated with electromagnetic waves. 
   
   
       13 . The method of healing a material of  claim 12  wherein said self-healing mechanism is activated and deactivated with visible light. 
   
   
       14 . The method of healing a composite material of  claim 10  wherein said self-healing mechanism is a combination of a first self-healing mechanism and a second self-healing mechanism. 
   
   
       15 . The method of healing a material of  claim 14  wherein said first self-healing mechanism is a shape memory effect. 
   
   
       16 . The method of healing a material of  claim 14  wherein said second self-healing mechanism is reptation of said material across said damaged point. 
   
   
       17 . The method of healing a material of  claim 1  wherein said control means for selectively activating the repair means at the damaged point is a computer control system interfaced with said sensing mean, said repair means and said material. 
   
   
       18 . The method of healing a material of  claim 17  wherein said computer control system:
 a. compares a baseline data set against a first new data set;   b. determines a healing process based on the comparison between the baseline data set and first new data set;   c. creates a set of tasks capable of being carried out in the proper sequence by a machine to execute said healing process; and   d. compares said baseline data set against a second new data set to determine when said healing process is complete.   
   
   
       19 . The method of healing a material of  claim 1  wherein said means for selectively activating the repair means at the damaged point is by manual input from a user.