Structural Dynamics Lab
at The University of South Florida

We develop methods to predict the nonlinear vibration response of structures. Be it friction, large deformations, changing material properties, or a combination thereof, our goal is to experimentally characterize as well as computationally simulate the complex dynamics that arise due to these nonlinearities, both accurately and efficiently.

Capabilities

Vibration Measurement
✦ 16-channel Data Acquisition System
✦ Uni- and Tri-axial Accelerometers
✦ Modal Hammer
✦ 60 lb Modal Shaker
✦ Mini-Shaker with Built-In Amplifier

Frictional Contact Measurement
✦ Ultrasonic Transducers (Longitudinal, 5 Mhz)
✦ Conformable Delay Lines
✦ 2-Channel Pulser-Receiver
✦ Oscilloscope (upto 100 MHz)
✦ Compressive Loading Rig (upto 5000 N)

People

Principal Investigator

Graduate Students

Undergraduate Students

Publications

Journal Publications

C. Taslicay, S.G. Bandaru, D. Shetty, “A New Method to Identify Closely Spaced Nonlinear Modes from Transient Ring-Down Data”, Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing (under review) preprintD. Shetty et al., “Quantitative Analysis of Design Influences on the Dynamic Properties of Elastomers”, Journal of Sound and Vibration, vol. 618, Dec 2025 preprintM. Krack et al. (32 authors including D. Shetty), “The Tribomechadynamics Research Challenge: Confronting Blind Predictions for the Linear and Nonlinear Dynamics of a Novel Jointed Structure with Measurement Results”, Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, vol. 224, Jan 2025 preprintD. Shetty, M. Allen, K. Park, “A New Approach to Model a System with Both Friction and Geometric Nonlinearity”, Journal of Sound and Vibration, vol. 552, p. 117631, May 2023 preprintD. Shetty and M. Allen, “A Parametric Study of the Bouc-Wen Model for Bolted Joint Dynamics”, Journal of Vibration and Acoustics, vol. 145, April 2023 preprintD. Shetty and M. Allen, “Fast Simulation of a Single Degree-of-Freedom System Consisting of An Iwan Element Using the Method of Averaging”, Journal of Vibration and Acoustics, vol. 142, no. 051107, May 2020. preprint

Conference Papers and Presentations

R.J. Osborne, L. Mydlenski, D. Shetty, “Measurement of Local Contact Stiffness using Ultrasound”, in SEM’s 44th International Modal Analysis Conference, January 2026 PDFR.J. Osborne, M. Brake, D. Shetty, “Measurement of Local Contact Stiffness using Ultrasound”, in Proceedings of the Acoustical Society of America, May 2025 (presentation only)D. Shetty, C. Taslicay, M. Brake, “A New Method to Identify Closely Spaced Nonlinear Modes”, in SEM’s 43rd International Modal Analysis Conference, February 2025 PDFD. Shetty, L. Le, M. Brake, “In-Situ Testing to Characterize the Dynamics of Elastomers”, in SEM’s 42nd IMAC February 2024 PDFD. Shetty, J. Wagner, R. Djishev, M. Brake, “In-Situ Measurement of Local Con-act Stiffness using Ultrasound”, in SEM’s 42nd IMAC, February 2024 PDFD. Shetty, S. Clawson, M.S. Allen, “A Non-Parametric Iwan element derived from measurements of amplitude-dependent frequency and damping”, in SEM’s 42nd IMAC, February 2024 PDFJ. Blackham et al. (9 authors including D. Shetty), "Nonlinear System Identification with Multiple Data Sets for Structures with Bolted Joints", in SEM’s 42nd IMAC, February 2024 PDFC. Taslicay, D. Shetty, J. Janardhan, M. Brake, “Leveraging Phase-Based Motion Magnification for Noise Source Identification in Pressure Exchangers”, in SEM’s 42nd IMAC, February 2024D. Shetty, J. Wagner, R. Djishev, M. Brake, “Using Ultrasound to Measure Contact Stiffness”, in Tribomechadynamics Research Conference, August 2023 (presentation only)Brennan Bahr, D. Shetty, M. S Allen, “Using Abaqus with Python to Perform QSMA on the TMD Structure,” 41st IMAC, February 2023 PDFD. Shetty, K. Park, C. Payne, M.S. Allen, “Predicting Nonlinearity in the TMD Benchmark Structure using QSMA and SICE”, in SEM’s 40th IMAC, February 2022 PDFD. Shetty, C. Payne, K. Park, I. Zare, M.S. Allen, “Predicting the Nonlinearity of the TMD Benchmark Structure using QSMA and SICE”, in Tribomechadynamics Research Conference, August 2021 (presentation only)D. Shetty and M.S. Allen, “A General Iwan Element Derived from Quasi-Static Force-Displacement Data”, in SEM’s 39th IMAC, February 2021 PDFD. Shetty, M. S. Allen, J. D. Schoneman, “Application of the Bouc-Wen model to Bolted Joint Dynamics,” in SEM’s 38th IMAC, February 2020 PDFI Zare, M. S. Allen, D. Shetty, “Numerical Continuation of Periodic Orbits for Harmonically Forced Nonlinear Systems with Iwan Joints,” in SEM’s 38th IMAC, February 2020 PDFD. Shetty et al. (10 authors), “Wear-dependent Evolution of Frictional Contact in Vibrating Jointed Structures”, in Tribomechadynamics Research Conference, Houston TX, July 2019 (presentation only)D. Shetty and M. S. Allen, “A New Iwan/Palmov Implementation for Fast Simulation and System Identification,” in SEM’s 37th IMAC, February 2019 PDFR. Menghani, D. Shetty, J. Patel, S.S. Barve, “Optimization of an Oleo-Pneumatic Shock Absorber for Main Landing Gear of a Commercial Aircraft”, in International Conference on Advances in Thermal Systems, Materials and Design Engineering (ATSMDE) 2017 PDF

Theses

D. Shetty, "Bolted Joints Dynamic Simulation: Improving the Computational Efficiency", University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2022 PDF

Contact

Lab Location

ENG 106 (Engineering Building - I),
University of South Florida

PI Contact

Office: ENB 142 (Engineering Building -II)
Email: [email protected]

Department Information

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Office: ENC 2300 (Engineering Building - III)
Website: usf.edu/engineering/mae