More Info


External flows past objects have been studied extensively because of their many practical applications.  For example, airfoils are made into streamline shapes in order to increase the lifts, and at the same time, reducing the aerodynamic drags exerted on the wings.  On the other hand, flow past a blunt body, such as a circular cylinder, usually experiences boundary layer separation and very strong flow oscillations in the wake region behind the body.  In certain Reynolds number range, a periodic flow motion will develop in the wake as a result of boundary layer vortices being shed alternatively from either side of the cylinder.  This regular pattern of vortices in the wake is called a Karman vortex street.  It creates an oscillating flow at a discrete frequency that is correlated to the Reynolds number of the flow.   The periodic nature of the vortex shedding phenomenon can sometimes lead to unwanted structural vibrations, especially when the shedding frequency matches one of the resonant frequencies of the structure.  One example is the famous Tacoma Narrow Bridge incident and this topic has been discussed in great details in the Tacoma bridge link.

Previous Step Back to Beginning Next Step