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[TowerTalk] antenna element vibration damping - how

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Subject: [TowerTalk] antenna element vibration damping - how
From: k4oj@tampabay.rr.com (Jim White, K4OJ)
Date: Mon Aug 11 22:56:01 2003
Thanks, Hank!

That was interesting.

..more importantly, now I remember why I dropped out of engineering school!

:-)

Jim, K4OJ



kr7x@comcast.net wrote:
> List members:
> 
> The phenomina you are witnessing is called vortex shedding or oscillation. It 
> is a function of natural frequency of the element, in this case a cylindar 
> with 
> l/d >25, and the weight per unit length plus the wind velocity.
> 
> For those who wish to see some illustrations go to:
> 
>               http://www.itsc.com/movvkv.htm
>               http://www.mecaconsulting.com/vortex_shedding.htm
> 
> For a ton of sites use google and type in "vortex shedding" .
> 
> For those interested further now come some formulas:
> 
> for straight cylinder  nat freq (f)= C/2*Pi*L Sqrt(E*I*g/w)
> 
>              C=3.515 for 1st mode
>              L= length of element
>              E=Modulus of elasticity of element material
>              I=Moment of Inertia of element cross section
>              g= acceleration of gravity
>              w= element weight per unit length
> 
> IF the element is tapered then:
> 
>                 f = 3.52*De/48*Le Sqrt(E*g/2*w)
> 
>                 De= equivalent dia of tapered element
>                 Le= equivalent length of tapered element
> 
>                  De=D+Dend/2
>                  Le= L*Sqrt(2*De/De+D)
> 
> The critical velocity to induce oscillation is:
>   
>                            v= f*D/S      S=Strouhal number =0.2
>                                          D= D or De
> 
> As can be seen as the natural frequency goes up the critical velocity goes up
> 
> When you add a rope inside an element then you have increased the mass which 
> increases the unit weight without modifying any other component which will 
> reduce the natural frequency and there by decreasing the critical velocity. 
> This helps explain why these things occur at lower velocities.
> 
> IF you taper the element then you reduce both the diameter, reduce the I and 
> the w and reduce the length. The upshot is that the natural frequency 
> normally 
> increases thus the critical velocity increases.
> 
> This occurs again at the next harmoinc natural frequency. The force generated 
> at natural or resonant frequencies of structures increase/decrease very 
> quickly 
> at the resonant frequencies with very little change in velocity. So as the 
> wind 
> starts and if the critical velocity is reached vortex shedding and its 
> accompaning oscillations occur. As you pass through the critical velocity 
> point 
> then the vibration will damp out. If the wind speed continues to rise it is 
> likely that it will approach the 2nd harmonic frequency velocity and the 
> oscillations will occur with additional node and so on.
> 
> Which is better as far as mass increase via rope in the element or tapered 
> elements ? Who knows. 
> 
> Which ever mechanism you choose it would be advantageous to have a 
> fundamental 
> natural frequency that would be high enough to exceed normal wind velocities 
> at 
> a given location. However this on a commercial basis would be very difficult.
> 
> In general if you use straight non-tapered elements use rope inside if 
> tapered 
> then I would think that the taper would be very dramatic as to lessend Le and 
> De but not to the detriment of the I or stiffness of the section to withstand 
> design wind and ice loadings. See not an easy answer with all kinds of 
> comprimises.
> 
> This is my 1 euro input but I hope it expands the understanding behind this 
> type of vibration.
> 
> 73
> Hank Lonberg, P.E.,S.E. / KR7X
> Lonberg Design Group, Ltd.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless 
> Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any 
> questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> 
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