Self-Repair and Damage Mitigation of Metallic Structures

The ability for a large-scale structure to autonomously mend damage is critical in engineering systems that are difficult or impractical to repair in service. This research program seeks to develop lightweight metallic components with the capability to sense damage and self-repair. Integral parts of this program include the exploration of novel concepts such as in-situ self-fluxing, integrating high performance shape memory alloy reinforcement as a crack closure and toughening agent and passive fiber optic sensing. This technology has the potential to significantly reduce cost, space and weight, and with the value-added characteristic of the ability to heal from damage for increased reliability, structures can be designed with unprecedented and revolutionary capabilities.

This technology has the potential to significantly reduce cost, space and weight, and with the value-added characteristic of the ability to heal from damage for increased reliability, structures can be designed with unprecedented and revolutionary capabilities.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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