Earned a Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, in 2023, followed by a Master's degree in Structural Engineering & Natural Disaster Management from Andhra University College of Engineering, Visakhapatnam, and a Bachelor's degree from Velagapudi Ramakrishna Siddhartha Engineering College, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

Primary research focuses on offshore and onshore structural dynamic analysis through numerical and experimental investigations. This includes investigating structural responses and fatigue life assessment under both intact and postulated failure conditions of platforms. Also conducted extensive numerical studies on the dynamic analysis of wind turbines to harness renewable energy.

Possesses diverse expertise in proof checking structural designs and drawings, as well as knowledge in structural engineering material testing. Further, contributed to the project "Establishment of Desalination Plants at UT-Lakshadweep Islands" at the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). In this role, conducted dynamic analysis of Caisson structures (Sump), estimating hydrodynamic forces, static stability parameters, and response amplitude operators (RAOs) to assess dynamic and static stability during the towing of the sump from the lagoon to the offshore site, covering a distance of approximately 25 km. Additionally, supervised the construction of plant buildings and bridges at the Lakshadweep islands, demonstrating proficiency in planning, preparing construction schedules, drawings, Bill of Quantities (BOQ), and estimation of concrete and steel quantities, along with technical specifications of work.

Further, served as a project scientist at the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay. In this capacity, responsible for overall coordination, management, and technical progress of various projects such as blue energy from salinity gradient, conditional assessment of cargo berth structures and the dynamic analysis of offshore floating wind turbines. Currently serving as an assistant professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Calicut, India.

• Dynamics of Offshore Structures

• Analysis and Design of Marine Structures

• Advanced Design of Steel Structures

• Analysis of Structures

• Engineering Mechanics

• Construction Materials

• Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures

• Structural Dynamics

• Fatigue Life Assessment of Structural Members

• Offshore Structures

• Coastal Structures

• Wave-Structure Interaction

• Blue Renewable Energy (WECs; Energy from Salinity Gradients; FOWT & OTEC)

• Sustainable Construction in the Marine Environment.

• Ocean Engineering

• International Journal of Structural Stability and Dynamics

• Life Member: The Indian Society For Hydraulics [LM-1697]

• IEEE member ( 102024081), Malabar Subscription

• Shanmukha Rao*., & Balaji, R. (2024). Dynamic Analysis of Elliptical Hull Supported
  5MW OC3 Wind Turbine. International Journal of Structural Stability and Dynamics,
  2650080. https://doi.org/10.1142/S021945542650080X

• Balaji, R., Saravana, S., Shanmukha Rao*, Ravi, N. (2024). Retrofit Challenges and Post-
  Retrofit Structural Diagnostics of Legacy Cargo Berths –A Case Study of Deendayal Port.
  Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India): Series A, 1-13.
  https://doi.org/10.1007/s40030-025-00897-7

• Chandrasekaran, S., & Shanmukha Rao*. (2023). Offshore triceratops with elliptical legs
  under postulated tendon failure, International Journal of Structural Stability and
  Dynamics, 2450167-19. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219455424501670

• Chandrasekaran, S., & Shanmukha Rao. (2023). Postulated tendon failure of offshore
  triceratops, Journal of Marine Science and Application. 23(1), 182-200.
  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11804-024-00397-3

• Shanmukha Rao*, & Balaji, R. (2024).  Hydrodynamic Analysis of Offshore
  Floating Wind Turbine with Circular and Elliptical Hull Supporting Systems. The
  Fifteenth ISOPE-PACOMS 2024, IIT Madras, Chennai, India (Oct. 2024).

• Shanmukha Rao*, Muttuchelvi, T., & Balaji, R. (2024).  Circular and Elliptical Hull
  Supporting 5MW Wind Turbine: Free Floating Analysis. 29th International
  Conference on Hydraulics, Water Resources, River and Coastal Engineering. ISH-
  HYDRO 2024, Pune, India (Dec. 2024).

• Chandrasekaran, S., & Shanmukha Rao*. (2023). Dynamic response of offshore
  triceratops under regular waves with tether postulated failure. I.O.P. Conference
  Series: Materials Science and Engineering. Vol. 1288, No. 1, p. 012032. (IWSH-
  2023, Finland, Aalto University). DOI 10.1088/1757-899X/1288/1/01203

• Ajay, V., Shanmukha, R. G, & Krishnamoorthy, S. (2026). Multipurpose offshore floating platforms: A solution towards sustainable ocean economy by mitigating ocean-climate impacts. In Proceedings of OCEANS 2026, Sanya. (Accepted)

•  Shanmukha Rao, G., & Balaji, R. (2024).  The Evolution of Desalination Techniques: A Global and National Perspective. 3rd International Conference & Exhibition on “Transforming India's Water Future, AWWA, India Association", Caravela Beach Resort, Goa, India (Sept. 2024).