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Re: [TowerTalk] Wind Noise

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Wind Noise
From: Grant Saviers <grants2@pacbell.net>
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2021 15:37:11 -0700
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
I think there are different physical events being confused in this thread.

The rope or cylinder helix wrapped on a cylinder is designed to prevent vortex shedding which induces oscillations in a slender cylinder. Installed on tall chimneys, power lines, flag poles, etc. The pitch is usually quite large relative to the diameter of the cylinder being protected and the diameter of the helix wrap is much smaller. google vortex shedding. The small effective diameter increase from the wrap is probably a very small change wind load or ice loading.

The other is means to dampen an oscillation in a slender tube. Way back, the Telrex TH7DX placed polypro ropes in the tips of the dual driven elements. The loose rope bouncing around inside dampened the oscillations enough so the elements didn't fatigue fail. There is no "safe threshold" stress in aluminum so small motions repeated endlessly will cause a failure. I have personally verified this with a vertical that sang loudly.

I doubt that the vortex shedding wrap can provide any significant dampening. It would need to be strongly bonded to the tubing and have substantial dampening properties. Loose inside the tube was proven to work on TH7's.

Given the wind turbulence around lattice towers, I'd bet that sustained "tower" audio vibration is induced from antenna vibrations. House mounts can be noisy just from looseness in the mounts. Shock/vibration isolators might help reduce the coupling to the house structure. (many choices at McMaster).

In most structures, an ounce of vibration prevention (or good design) is worth 10# of cure. (which is hard to do).

Grant KZ1W


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