Reflexive composites, self-healing shape memory polymer (SMP) composites for aerostructures integrated into a structural health monitoring system, allow air vehicles to repair structural damage caused by events while in flight such as bird strikes and debris. Such an integrated system would extend the service life of the vehicle and allow it to land safely during an emergency, protecting both the vehicle and its passengers or payload.

Reflexive composites are a bio-inspired technology, mimicking a biological ability to identify and mitigate damage for increased survivability. This is accomplished through the integration of three emerging technologies: healable SMP composites, structural health monitoring (SHM), and intelligent controls.
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