Rate My Professor Mohan Rao

Dr. Mohan Rao is a distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee. He earned his Ph.D. from Auburn University in 1988 and previously served as a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University. A Fellow of both the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Dr. Rao has made significant contributions to the fields of acoustics and vibration. His research encompasses analytical modeling of damping in materials, joints, and composite structures, as well as experimental investigations ranging from small power tools to large-scale machinery such as excavators and diesel engines. This work has been supported by prestigious sponsors including NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), the State of Florida, and leading industries like Ford, General Motors, Daimler-Chrysler, Caterpillar, TRW, Johnson Controls, John Deere, NIOSH, Arctic Cat, Polaris, Xerox, and Volvo-Korea. Dr. Rao has authored over 100 publications in technical journals and conference proceedings, advised more than 50 graduate students, and serves as an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Vehicle Noise and Vibration.

Dr. Rao's impact on academia and engineering is evidenced by numerous accolades, including the US Fulbright Award, the NSF Research Initiation Award, recognition from NASA Marshall Space Flight Center for his contributions to damping the Hubble Space Telescope truss system, designation as a United Nations Development Program expert in Noise and Vibration Control, and the 2011 INCE Outstanding Educator Award from the Institute of Noise Control Engineering for his decades-long contributions to noise control education. Key publications include 'Recent applications of viscoelastic damping for noise control in automobiles and commercial airplanes' (2003), 'Dynamic analysis and design of laminated composite beams with multiple damping layers' (1993), 'Dynamic analysis and damping of composite structures embedded with viscoelastic layers' (1997), 'Estimation of frequency-averaged loss factors by the power injection and the impulse response decay methods' (2005), and 'Vibration and damping analysis of a sandwich beam containing a viscoelastic constraining layer' (2005). His research interests focus on vibrations, acoustics, noise control, damping design, sound quality, and auditory engineering, influencing advancements in noise reduction across automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications.