The aim of RT3 is to develop material systems with the ability to self‐sense physical damage and initiate a self‐healing or immunising response, preferably prior to any damage actually occurring. The primary outputs will be:
- a combined sensor‐diagnosis‐healing technique, in which will have identified appropriate sensing materials and sensor geometry for determination of strains, micromechanical changes and the on‐set of damage
- microcapsules that are inherently self‐sensing and immunising through their use of functionalised mechano‐responsive shells that can be programmed to rupture at predefined stress levels, below that of the host matrix
- a polymer/graphene self‐sensing composite vascular system consisting of piezoelectric and electrically conductive layers with a healing substrate.
People
Prof Kevin Paine / Dr Hussameldin Taha
WORK PACKAGES
+ WP1 – Self‐sensing to signal healing responses
+ WP2 – Self‐controlled activation of SMP grids, validation of healing
+ WP3 – Microcapsules with functionalised mechano‐responsive shells
+ WP4 – Polymer/graphene self‐sensing composite vascular system