Helical Armor: Defeating the Aerodynamics of Vortex Shedding

A perfectly smooth, towering concrete smokestack may look aerodynamically efficient, but in high winds, that smooth surface is a fatal architectural flaw. As wind passes a cylindrical tower, it creates alternating low-pressure whirlpools on the leeward side-a terrifying fluid dynamic phenomenon known as Vortex Shedding. If the frequency of these alternating vortices matches the natural harmonic ...