Updated April 16, 2020: The method of breach analysis discussed in this article is referred to as the "Section Property" method in MecaStack. As of v5506 there is now a method available called the "Troitsky" method, and an article discussing that method is in another...
When and why should I use guy wires on a stack? When a stack has a vortex shedding problem there can be many factors that determine which solutions are the best. Guy wires aren't always the most conventional solution, but its always an option to consider.How do Guy...
I'll bet "Slow Down" isn't an expression you hear much in your business. I dream of a day when a customer tells me, "Slow down, we really don't care when you finish your design." I can't get you more time on your deadline, but I can tell you one instance that...
In my humble opinion, the Movie Top Gun is one of the best movies of all time. One of the best parts is when Tom Cruise says "I feel the need, the need for speed". It's not just a great line, it also applies to many stack designs. More speed (critical wind speed)...
When a vortex shedding problem exists on a stack, sometimes the most economical option is a damping pad. What is a damping pad?A damping pad is a preformed laminated fabric pad of a manufactured material composed of layers of tightly twisted, closely woven lightweight...
We can all grasp the physical attributes of a stack such as the height, weight, diameters, etc.; however, what is the stack's structural damping? Does MecaStack estimate the damping of the stack? Is there any harm in just arbitrarily changing the damping...
If you have a vortex shedding problem on a stack, then in some cases helical strakes are your best option; however, there are other cases where helical strakes are not the best option. When not to use Helical Strakes? If there is another stack (or tall structure) that...
When I was a new Engineer working for an equipment manufacturer, I can say that I didn't have a healthy appreciation for wind Induced vibration (vortex shedding). I worked for an equipment manufacturer who won and lost jobs based upon our cost, and considering vortex...
There is a feature in MecaStack that is seldom used, but can be very helpful. It's a feature under the File Menu called "Save Current File as Default".What does it do?When this feature is is selected, it takes the current file and sets it up as the default file that...