Rotor blade erosion protection systems

A rotorcraft comprising:

• an engine;
• a rotor hub assembly mechanically coupled to the engine;
• and
• a plurality of rotor blade assemblies rotatably mounted to the rotor hub assembly, each rotor blade assembly comprising:
• a rotor blade having a root, a tip and a leading edge;
• and
• an erosion shield system extending spanwise along the leading edge of the rotor blade, the erosion shield system including a plurality of erosion shield segments positioned adjacent to one another forming cavities therebetween, the cavities contiguously filled with strain tolerant material to form one or more rows of joints such that the strain tolerant material is flush with an outer surface of the plurality of erosion shield segments;
• wherein, the erosion shield system has a chordwise length that tapers in a spanwise direction from increasing to decreasing chordwise length from the root of the rotor blade to the tip of the rotor blade such that the plurality of erosion shield segments have nonuniform chordwise lengths;
• wherein, the joints in each row are nonuniformly spaced spanwise along the rotor blade;
• wherein, the joints in each row are asymmetrically disposed on the rotor blade;
• wherein, the strain tolerant material is more pliant than the plurality of erosion shield segments;
• wherein, the plurality of erosion shield segments further comprise a first and second erosion shield segments having a first joint of the joints therebetween, the strain tolerant material at the first joint formed from a material having an elasticity configured to permit narrowing of the first joint when the rotor blade assembly is nonrotating and widening of the first joint in response to centrifugal force when the rotor blade assembly is rotating;
• and
• wherein, the joints are configured to deform responsive to strain experienced by the rotor blade, thereby isolating the plurality of erosion shield segments from at least a portion of the strain experienced by the rotor blade.