Aldo A. Ferri

Aldo A. Ferri is a Professor and Director of Assessment and Student Success in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech. He holds a Ph.D. (1985), M.A. (1983) from Princeton University, and B.S. (1981) from Lehigh University. His research focuses on acoustics, structural dynamics, nonlinear dynamics, and control systems, with emphasis on vibration damping, friction-based systems, and fluid-structure interaction. He pioneered semi-active friction devices for shock isolation and dither-based friction oscillation cancellation. Ferri has received numerous teaching awards, including the Class of 1940 W. Howard Ector Outstanding Teacher Award (2016) and ASME Fellow status (2008). He has also contributed to educational innovations like blended learning and mobile hands-on experiments. His work is funded by NSF, NASA, and industry partners like Honeywell and General Motors. Ferri teaches courses in dynamics, control systems, and numerical methods, and has advised on projects ranging from wheelchair inertial properties to carbon nanotube mechanics. His lab develops experimental platforms for educational purposes and advanced engineering applications.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Princeton University, 1985
• M.A. in Mechanical Engineering, Princeton University, 1983
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Lehigh University, 1981

Research Interests:

• Structural vibrations and damping mechanisms
• Semi-active control systems and friction dynamics
• Fluid-structure interaction modeling
• Diagnostic/prognostic methods for mechanical systems
• Acoustic engineering and noise control
• Educational technology and hands-on learning modules

Key Contributions:

• Developed vibration isolation mounts for submarine platforms
• Advanced dither-based cancellation of brake squeal
• Created experimental platforms using guitar strings for teaching signals/systems
• Improved planetary gear fault diagnosis techniques
• Extended Ritz formulations for acousto-elasticity problems

Awards & Recognition:

• 2016 ASEE Best Paper Award
• Woodruff School Faculty Fellow (1993-1998)
• SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award (1991)

Grants & Partnerships:

• Honeywell, Inc.
• National Science Foundation
• NASA
• Air Force Office of Scientific Research
• Office of Naval Research
• General Motors Corporation

Labs & Teams: Leads research groups focused on mechanical systems control, experimental education tools, and nanotechnology applications. Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams in biomedical engineering (wheelchair efficiency studies) and materials science (carbon nanotube mechanics).