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Advanced Structures

Aerospace structures need to be sturdy, but as light as possible. Some of these materials will be traveling a long way under extreme conditions. We develop structures that are not only aerodynamic, but also lighter, stronger and more flexible to increase fuel efficiency, reduce waste and boost reusability. We are also pursuing innovative strategies such as smarter materials that can alert you when they are damaged to increase safety and make maintenance easier.

Associated faculty

Key labs

Student club highlight

Hyperloop team

Washington Hyperloop slims down its pod racer for Elon Musk’s next big contest

UW Hyperloop is going for the top prize in Elon Musk’s competition. This time they’ve got their racer down to fighting weight.

Research highlights

Good vibrations

A&A's Chun-Wei Chen contains energy for better structures, smoother rides, and higher efficiency.

a hand pointing at a paper model of a metamaterial

Origami-inspired materials could soften the blow for reusable spacecraft

A&A researchers have developed a novel solution, inspired by origami, to help reduce impact forces.

Marco Salviato, Seung Ko, and Jinkyu Yang

A&A partners with Chomarat, JCATI to advance composites and train students

A&A has partnered with JCATI and aerospace company Chomarat to advance composites research and bring hands-on experience to students.

coral reef

Using engineering materials to study coral reefs

Associate professor Jinkyu Yang and a team of researchers have received a two-year, $1.7 million National Science Foundation grant to study coral growth.

Award highlights

Timothy Gormley

A&A wins three awards at AIAA Region VI conference

A&A students won first in master's, first in team, and third in undergraduate at the AIAA Region VI Conference.

a group of students

A&A's structures faculty win major honors

September proves to be a successful month for A&A's structures faculty Jinkyu Yang, Eli Livne and Marco Salviato.

Related News

Jimmy O'Neil headshot

Wed, 04/03/2024

Origami manufacturing technique leads to breakthrough for softer impacts

Jimmy O’Neil proves origami tubes deliver softer impacts and breaks a manufacturing barrier with broad applications.

Aero & Astro 2023 student excellence awards graphic

Mon, 07/10/2023

A&A Student Excellence Awards 2023

A&A announces the 2023 Student Excellence Awards for research, teaching and service.

Thijs Masmeijer

Tue, 05/16/2023

A&A’s Thijs Masmeijer heads to University of Ljubljana with Graduate School Boeing International Fellowship

Thijs Masmeijer builds collaboration with University of Ljubljana to engineer structures inspired by spider webs.

Skeleton of a snake

Mon, 04/10/2023

Put more muscle into that structure

Adding soft actuation to rigid structures yields many key aerospace benefits, including strength, flexibility and efficiency.