USING COMPUTER MODELS TO DESIGN OBJECTS WITH SELF-HEALING MATERIAL ZONES

A computer implemented method that includes modeling an existing physical object as a computer based model including data representing physical dimensions of the physical object and material properties reflecting the materials of which the physical object is made, receiving a physical object usage data set including information about physical operations and/or ambient conditions, running a computer simulation on the computer based model of the physical object where the simulation includes computer simulation of the physical operations and/or ambient conditions included in the physical object usage data set, determining an area where a material defect zone on or in the physical object where a material defect is likely to occur in the physical object based on the running of the computer simulation, and applying self-healing material to the material defect zone of the physical object.