Vortex shedding is a fluid dynamics phenomenon where a fluid (like air or water) flows past a bluff body, creating alternating vortices in its wake. A bluff body (sometimes called a blunt body) is an object placed in a fluid flow where a significant portion of its surface experiences separated flow. This means that the fluid stream cannot follow the entire contour of the body and detaches, forming a broad, disturbed wake behind it.
These vortices form a repeating pattern called a von Kármán vortex street. It occurs when the fluid separates from the body's surface, causing pressure fluctuations that can induce vibrations or structural oscillations. The frequency of vortex shedding depends on the flow velocity, body shape, and fluid properties, often described by the Strouhal number.
The Process
