Kármán’s Vortex Street

fluid mechanics

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

Kármán's Vortex Street is a phenomenon in fluid mechanics that occurs when a fluid flows past a bluff body, such as a cylinder or a sphere. As the fluid moves past the obstacle, it separates from the surface, creating alternating rows of swirling vortices. This shedding of vortices causes an oscillating force on the body, which can lead to vibrations.12

Theodore von Kármán, a pioneering researcher in aeronautics and fluid mechanics, analyzed this phenomenon in 1911. His work helped explain events like the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940 due to wind-induced vibrations caused by vortex shedding. This concept is crucial in understanding fluid dynamics and its impact on structures and engineering.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Theodore von Kármán
Early life
…fluid stream, now famous as Kármán’s Vortex Street. The use of his analysis to explain the collapse, during high winds, of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in the state of Washington, in the United States, in 1940, is one of the most striking examples of its value.
Read More
…fluid stream, now famous as Kármán’s Vortex Street. The use of his analysis to explain the collapse, during high winds, of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in the state of Washington, in the United States, in 1940, is one of the most striking examples of its value.
Read More