Dependency of structure and performance of traveling wave type rotary ultrasonic motor on impact high overload is investigated. Firstly based on its special working principle and configuration, the finite element model of traveling wave type rotary ultrasonic motor is presented considering impact load. An explicit finite element method is used to simulate the transient response of the motor with impact load, and stress and strain distribution of the stator, rotor and piezoelectric elements are analyzed. Further, the applicability of traveling wave type rotary ultrasonic motor to impact load system is theoretically evaluated. Then the analyses are verified by the impact experiments of a traveling wave type ultrasonic motor with the special fixed equipment. Finally, shock-proof ability and damageable are studied. Due to its compact and simple structure excellent applicability of the ultrasonic motor to high impact load is experimentally proved, and considerable performance characteristics can be obtained with the directly applied impact load of 8 000 acceleration of gravity.