The Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics is among the top aerospace engineering programs in the nation and is ranked 5th by the U.S. News and World Report in aerospace graduate programs. A transformational gift to AAE was made by alumnus Ernest Gambaro and his wife Monica to endow and name the school's graduate program. The name Gambaro Graduate Program of Aeronautics and Astronautics was approved by Purdue's Board of Trustees on Dec. 7, 2018.<br><br>Structures and Materials emphasizes the study of structural analysis, structural dynamics, structural design and behavior of aerospace materials. This includes courses that deal with the principles of mechanics and the theoretical, computational and experimental techniques necessary to ensure the structural integrity of aerospace vehicles. Response to, and failure of, both materials and structures subjected to static and dynamic loads and thermal corrosive and radiation environments are investigated theoretically and observed experimentally.