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.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 911,673 filed Apr. 13, 2007, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 911,682 filed Apr. 13, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 911,665 filed Apr. 13, 2007.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH[0002]This invention was made with U.S. Government support under Contract No. NNL05AA97C awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Contract No. NNL06AA07C awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to Cornerstone Research Group Inc. The U.S. Government has certain rights in the invention.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of the Invention[0004]This application relates to the self-repair of polymer and polymer composite structures. The disclosed method of achieving this is to design and incorporate smart, intelligent, and adaptive systems into the structures composed of adaptive materials such as dynami...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0027]An advanced sense and respond technology comprised of multiple technologies to enhance survivability of future systems constructed of lightweight resins or composites is disclosed. The system is designed to react to detected damage with health monitoring by locally activating shape recovery and healing mechanisms of the adaptive polymer matrix or adaptive polymer matrix composite structure through the use of proven health monitoring technology to sense the location and significance of the damage and new healable dynamic elastic polymers and dynamic elastic polymers composites, an intelligent control system that integrates the system of technologies seamlessly and characterize the overall effectiveness.

Problems solved by technology

Introduction of composite materials into structural applications does however result in specific design considerations including failure mechanisms.

The failure mechanism for composites, as compared to traditional structural materials including concrete and steel, are more difficult to predict and monitor for.

This change in failure mechanism results in the necessity for expensive, and time consuming, non destructive evaluation (NDE) to monitor structural health.

This requirement for NDE drives up the cost of composite integration therefore increasing the barrier to entry.

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