Talk:Vortex shedding

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The Tacoma Narrows link says that Vortex Shedding wasnt' responsible for the bridge collapse, but this page says it is...

Vortex shedding can occur in any fluid, not just air.

[edit] Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed due to Aeroelastic flutter. Vortex shedding is an entirely different phenomenon. Bodies (especially bluff bodies) subjected to high Reynolds Number flow exhibit this phenomenon. Under ideal circumstances, vortex shedding will not take place unless the ideal flow is perturbed a little. (Similar to buckling in an ideal loading on ideal geometry case, it doesn't buckle unless a small perturbation is applied). Someone please verify my statement and make changes.

PS: I vote for merger.

54UV1K 14:21, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

Actually, the Reynolds number doesn't need to be that high, any greater than Re=47 will do. Yes, vortex shedding won't occur in ideal circumstances, but only an infinitesimal disturbance is required, as the non-shedding wake is inherently unstable. Therefore, it is practically unavoidable, and I think it is confusing to include this fact in a page for general consumption. I vote for merger too, the two pages describe the same phenomenon. Any edits I make will be to the vortex street page, it seems a little more in-depth already.

Jmista 07:02, 13 December 2006 (UTC)