Karman vortex street

A Karman vortex street is a repeating pattern of swirling air or fluid that forms behind a solid object, like a cylinder or bridge pillar, when fluid flows past it. As the fluid moves around the object, it separates into vortices—spiral-shaped currents—that alternate sides, creating a regular, staggered pattern. This phenomenon occurs because of the way the fluid's flow becomes unstable and produces these rhythmic vortices. Karman vortex streets are important in engineering for understanding flow stability, and they can cause vibrations or vibrations in structures, which need to be considered in design.