Rotary Wing Project research into materials and structures focuses on rotorcraft-specific issues in crashworthiness, advanced materials for airframes and engines, durability, and damage tolerance.

Work within the structures and materials discipline is focused on unique technology needs for future rotorcraft in the areas of durable propulsion materials, lightweight structure, and advanced acoustic materials/structures. Research on propulsion materials is focused on the need for materials that can withstand harsh cyclic loading and erosion conditions. This research will be coordinated with the propulsion discipline. Research on lightweight structures is focused on two areas: 1) the need for fatigue resistance and damage tolerance in extremely lightweight structures that are sometimes allowed to buckle in service; and 2) the need for reliable crash-simulation tools that will reduce reliance on expensive full-scale testing for evaluation of new materials and structural concepts to improve crashworthiness. Research on advanced acoustic materials/structures is focused on developing and evaluating materials with improved acoustic performance and integration of these materials into lightweight rotorcraft structures. This research will be coordinated with research in the acoustics discipline.