wing

Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a new technology that will allow aircraft wings and fuselage to recover themselves during flight, in the event of any undetectable cracks.

The team has been working on the technology over the past three years in partnership with aerospace engineers.

University of Bristol Professor Duncan Wass was quoted by the Independent as saying that the self-healing products could be available to consumers in the near future.

The solution involves the addition of tiny, hollow microspheres to carbon fibre composite materials that would release a liquid healing agent upon impact.

The compound fills the cracks caused by damage and a rapid chemical reaction makes it harden.

"If we do get damaged, we bleed, and it scabs and heals…We just put that same sort of function into a synthetic material."

Wass said: "We’ve not evolved to withstand any damage, if we were like that we’d have a skin as thick as a rhinoceros, but if we do get damaged, we bleed, and it scabs and heals.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

"We just put that same sort of function into a synthetic material: let’s have something that can heal itself."

Tests have showed that the material is indeed stronger after it has healed.

As a dye could be added to the healing agent, engineers would be able to quickly identify the damaged areas.

"We’d probably do it with something which is invisible to the naked eye that you’d need to put an ultraviolet light on, because you don’t want an aeroplane wing with a big red splodge on it showing that it’s been damaged."

Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s UK Catalysis Hub, the research will be presented at a Royal Society meeting this week.

Image: An aircraft wing that could receive a liquid healing agent. Photo: courtesy of Mgw89 / Wikipedia.