Smart and repeatable easy-repairing and self-sensing composites with enhanced mechanical performance for extended components life

•Multifunctional composites with integrated easy-repair and in-situ damage sensing.•A simple process to repair interlaminar fracture damage in carbon/epoxy laminates.•Restored properties after four consecutive fracture and repair cycles outperformed neat carbon/epoxy reference.•Guidance on utilising this simple interleaving concept for easy-repairing composites.