Negative Aerodynamic Damping in Vortex-Induced Vibration Models: A Critical Review

The paper reviews the use of negative aerodynamic damping to model vortex-induced vibrations, beginning with Scruton’s initial intuition in 1963, progressing through its application in the spectral method by Vickery and Basu (1983), and culminating in more than a decade of research by the authors, supported by experimental evidence and full-scale validation. This research approach effectively integrates scientific knowledge with industrial practice. The updated formulation, which modifies Vickery’s original negative aerodynamic damping curve based on wind-tunnel results, has proven both physically sound and capable of reproducing vortex-induced vibrations with a high degree of accuracy. This is demonstrated in the works of Livanos (2024) and Kurniawati (2025) on wind-turbine towers. The model is also applicable to other types of structures, such as bridge hangers. The new modelling approach proposed by the authors is suitable for codification and has now been incorporated into the latest revision of the CICIND Model Code for Steel Chimneys.