Ryan J. Sherman

A portrait of Ryan Sherman wearing a blue suit with a light blue checked shirt and a blue tie
Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials
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Ryan J. Sherman

Associate Professor
Email Address
ryan.sherman@ce.gatech.edu
Telephone
404.894.2227
Office Building
Mason
Office Room Number
4158
Biography

Dr. Ryan J. Sherman is an Associate Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he joined the faculty in 2019. He specializes in steel structures, fatigue and fracture, large‑scale structural experimentation, field monitoring, metallic additive manufacturing, welded-joint performance, and structural system redundancy. His work integrates laboratory testing, analytical simulation, and in‑service monitoring to explore the behavior and performance of metallic structures and enhance the function, resilience, and safety of past, present, and future civil infrastructure. Dr. Sherman earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Michigan Technological University (2007) and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Purdue University (2009, 2016). His professional background includes serving on the faculty at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas and working as a Research Engineer at Purdue University’s Bowen Laboratory. Dr. Sherman is a registered professional engineer in the state of Nevada.

Research

Dr. Sherman’s research focuses on understanding and advancing the behavior and performance of steel bridges, buildings, and ancillary highway structures. His work spans fatigue and fracture behavior, large‑scale structural testing, field monitoring, material characterization, and finite element simulation. He has led and contributed to major research initiatives for NCHRP, FHWA, multiple state DOTs, and industry partners, with outcomes that have directly informed and improved AASHTO design and evaluation specifications. Dr. Sherman has conducted numerous full‑scale laboratory experiments and field monitoring campaigns across the United States, providing transportation agencies with critical data to guide maintenance, repairs, and retrofit decisions, as well as to refine design methodologies. In addition, he is a national leader in large‑format metal additive manufacturing for structural applications, directing research programs and serving on technical committees that are advancing metallic AM toward safe and practical in‑service deployment.

Education

Ph.D. in Civil Engineering                       Purdue University                                        2016  

M.S. in Civil Engineering                        Purdue University                                         2009

B.S. in Civil Engineering                         Michigan Technological University            2007

Teaching

Dr. Sherman’s teaching interests include the behavior and performance of steel bridges, buildings, and ancillary highway structures. His Georgia Tech teaching portfolio comprises a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses, including Statics, Mechanics of Deformable Bodies, Introduction to Structural Engineering, and Behavior of Metal Structures. Dr. Sherman actively seeks opportunities to enhance his instruction, with past activities including the ASCE Excellence in Civil Engineering Education (ExCEEd) Program, the AISC Educator Workshop, and the Georgia Tech Class of 1969 Teaching Fellows Program. Dr. Sherman has improved student success from these programs by developing hands-on demonstrations, creating group activities, and integrating projects to enhance student communication skills.

Distinctions & Awards
  • Additive Manufacturing in Construction (AMC) Mercator Fellowship
  • Georgia Tech Student Recognition of Excellence in Teaching: 2024 CIOS Award
  • Georgia Tech CEE Young Faculty Research Award
  • Georgia Tech CEE Appreciation Award
  • Fall 2024 Georgia Tech CTL CIOS Honor Roll
  • Spring 2024 Georgia Tech CTL CIOS Honor Roll
  • Fall 2023 Georgia Tech CTL CIOS Honor Roll
  • American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Robert J. Dexter Memorial Lecture
  • American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Milek Fellowship
  • American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Terry Peshia Early Career Faculty Award
  • Spring 2021 Georgia Tech Student Recognition of Excellence in Teaching: Class of 1934 CIOS Honor Roll
Publications
  1. Kessler, H., Raschid Farrokhi, S., Sherman, R. (2025). “Fatigue Performance of Wire Arc Additively Manufactured ER70S-6 and ER80S-Ni1.” ASCE. Journal of Bridge Engineering. 30(10).* https://doi.org/10.1061/JBENF2.BEENG-7229
  2. Kessler, H., Sherman, R. (2025). “Tension and Charpy V-notch Impact Properties of Wire Arc Additively Manufactured ER70S-6.” ASCE. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. 35(5). 04025099.* https://doi/epdf/10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-18732
  3. Burney, D.C., Kurtis, K., Jacobs, L., Sherman, R. (2024). “A Comparison of Nondestructive Methods for Detecting Rebar Placement.” American Concrete Institute. ACI Materials Journal. 121(6).* https://doi.org/10.14359/51742260
  4. Slein, R., Kamath, A. Phillips, M., Togay, O., Sherman, R., White, D. (2024). “Flexural Resistance of Thin-Web Singly-Symmetric Steel I-Sections Exhibiting Early Tension Flange Yielding.” Elsevier. Journal of Constructional Steel Research. 221. 108831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2024.108831
  5. Phillips, M., Slein, R., Sherman, R., White, D. (2024). “Proposed Improvements AISC 360 22 Chapter F for Built-up I-Section Members.” Elsevier. Journal of Constructional Steel Research. 217. 108657.* https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2024.108657
  6. Kessler, H., Sherman, R. (2024). “Tension and Charpy V-notch Impact Properties of Wire Arc Additively Manufactured ER80S-Ni1.” Elsevier Structures. 61: 106134.* https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2024.106134
  7. Deshpande, A., Sherman, R., White, D. (2024). “Influence of Transverse Stiffening on the Lateral-Torsional Buckling Resistance of Built-up I-Girders.” Elsevier. Thin-Walled Structures. 195. 111320.* https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2023.111320
  8. Phillips, M., Slein, R., Sherman, R., White, D. (2023). “Experimental Investigation of Doubly-Symmetric Built-up I-Girders Subjected to High Moment Gradient.” Elsevier. Engineering Structures. 283. 115724.* https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.115724
  9. Slein, R., Kamath, A., Phillips, M., Sherman, R., Scott, D., White, D. (2023). “Experimental and Analytical Assessment of LTB Resistance of Built-up Steel I-Section Members.” Elsevier. Journal of Constructional Steel Research. 204. 107771.* https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2022.107771
  10. Phillips, M., Kamath, A., Sherman, R., White, D. (2023). “Influence of Web Distortion and Onset of Yield on Doubly Symmetric Built-up I-Girders Subjected to High Moment Gradient.” Elsevier. Thin-Walled Structures. 185. 110545.* https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2023.110545
  11. Slein, R., Kamath, A., Sherman, R., White, D. (2022). “Manual Estimation of Elastic Lateral-Torsional Buckling Resistance of Linearly-Tapered I-Section Members.” ASCE. Journal of Structural Engineering. 148(11), 04022182.* https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0003497
  12. Slein, R., Sherman, R., White, D. (2022). “Manual Estimation of Elastic Lateral-Torsional Buckling Resistance of Members with Cross-Section Transitions.” ASCE. Journal of Bridge Engineering. 27(10), 04022099.* https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0001931

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