Peter Avitabile

Contact

pavitabi@mtu.edu

Research Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

DEng, Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell,
MS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Rhode Island
BS, Mechanical Engineering, Manhattan College

Biography

Pete has close to 5 decades of experience in design and analysis using FEM and experimental techniques. His main area of research is structural dynamics specializing in the areas of modeling, testing, and correlation of analytical and experimental models along with advanced applications for developing structural dynamic models. Pete has contributed well over 300 technical papers in the area as well as his 17 year “Modal Space” article series in the Experimental Techniques magazine published by the Society for Experimental Mechanics. He is the 2004 recipient of the prestigious SEM DeMichele Award. He is recognized worldwide as an expert in structural dynamic modeling applications. Pete has provided a wide range of modal analysis educational materials that are widely used around the world and has published a book entitled “Modal Testing: A Practitioner’s Guide”. He often provides consulting services for a wide variety of industries in these specialty areas of expertise and is funded by a wide assortment of companies and government agencies.

Pete is a Professor Emeritus (retired), University of Massachusetts Lowell, Fellow and President (2016) for Society for Experimental Mechanics, Associate Editor—Handbook of Experimental Structural Mechanics, and Professional Engineer, Rhode Island.

Areas of Expertise

Structural Dynamics and Vibrations
Analytical and Experimental Modal Analysis
Correlation and Updating of Structural Dynamic Models

Research Interests

Structural Dynamic Modeling Techniques
Experimental Modal Analysis
System Modeling
Reduced Order Modeling

Publication Overview

Journal papers—over 60 papers. Conference papers – over 350 papers. Magazine articles—over 20 articles
Experimental Techniques—Modal Space article series—over 17 years continuous publication with over 100 articles.
Book—SEM Handbook of Experimental Structural Dynamics, Associate Editor, published 2022
Book—Modal Testing: A Practitioner’s Guide, author, ISBN: 978-1-119-22289-7, published November 2017
Chapter—Finite Element Model Correlation, SEM Handbook Experimental Structural Dynamics
Chapter—Linear Modal Substructuring with Nonlinear Connections, SEM Handbook Experimental Structural Dynamics

Research Funding

Close to 10 million dollars since 2000 from a variety of NSF, government, and industry contracts.

Courses Taught

Undergraduate
- Mechanical Engineering Lab
- Dynamic Systems
- Vibrations
- Mechanical Design
- Capstone
Graduate
- Structural Dynamic Modeling Techniques
- Experimental Modal Analysis
- Advanced Vibrations, Structural Dynamics
- Matrix Methods in Structural Dynamics