A process for designing a labyrinth seal for flutter avoidance in which a computer generated Finite Element model of the lab seal is produced, the geometric parameters of the lab seal is determined, the lab seal flow parameters are determined, the solid model of the lab seal is analyzed using a finite element analysis program for a range of nodal diameters to determine frequencies and mode shapes, an aerodynamic damping and mechanical damping for the labyrinth seal is determined, and if the sum of the aerodynamic and mechanical damping is negative one or more of the labyrinth seal parameters are changed and the analysis is repeated.