This DAA is for the Phase II webinar presentation of the ARMD - funded SMASH technology . A self - repairing aluminum - based composite system has been developed using liquid - assisted healing theory in conjunction with the shape memory effect of wire reinforcements . The metal matrix composite was thermodynamically designed to have a matrix with a relatively even dispersion of low - melting phase , allowing for repair of cracks at a pre - determined temperature . Shape memory alloy wire reinforcements were used within the composite to provide crack closure . Investigators focused the research on fatigue cracks propagating through the matrix in order to optimize and computer model the SMASH technology for aeronautical applications .