Vortex Generators Really Work . . . . Fact or Fiction ??
Jan 12, 2010, 03:28 PM
#17
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The vortex generator helps reduce drag as well as making better airflow for more downforce. It's good for any car.
You can get an OEM part from RusselM on this site, he works for Mitsuparts.net check the vendor area.
You can get an OEM part from RusselM on this site, he works for Mitsuparts.net check the vendor area.
Jan 12, 2010, 03:40 PM
#19
George,
the vortex generator is acting like a trip , which means it helps to keep the air attached to the contour of the rear window.
The "cleaner" air coming in towards the wing has a better CHANCE of reacting with the wing.
If your wing is higher than the stock wing you are at an advantage in that the air coming to the wing is already less affected by the rear window. However the air fooling around with the lee of the rear window causes some drag that the wing is not bothered by. To reduce this low pressure / lee condition you want to use the vortex generator.
in a nutshell, a higher wing is better, a vortex generator should help in reducing drag. (with or without a wing.
net affect of the VG prolly... about the same as waxing your car
the vortex generator is acting like a trip , which means it helps to keep the air attached to the contour of the rear window.
The "cleaner" air coming in towards the wing has a better CHANCE of reacting with the wing.
If your wing is higher than the stock wing you are at an advantage in that the air coming to the wing is already less affected by the rear window. However the air fooling around with the lee of the rear window causes some drag that the wing is not bothered by. To reduce this low pressure / lee condition you want to use the vortex generator.
in a nutshell, a higher wing is better, a vortex generator should help in reducing drag. (with or without a wing.
net affect of the VG prolly... about the same as waxing your car
Last edited by nothere; Jan 12, 2010 at 08:55 PM.
Jan 12, 2010, 08:42 PM
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George, you need to ask yourself...will coilovers make me faster? Well, rather loosely speaking, coilovers should make you faster. However, that depends on a lot of things. If you slap on some coilovers, youre not magically going to be a X amount of seconds faster. There are many factors involved. What good are coilovers if your alignment is all wrong, or if your spring rates are not ideal for your overall setup? Point is, whats important is the overall setup. Is a VG functional? Maybe, but whats more important is your overall aero setup. And more importantly, does it match your suspension tuning? You have to look at the big picture. Is a VG going to win me races? Im going to go out on a limb and say no. Whats going to win me races is the overall setup of my car, and a whole bunch of various factors that are irrelevant to this thread.
Jan 16, 2010, 07:18 AM
#23
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Has anyone seen the Mythbusters episode where they dimple a car like a golf ball? The thing picked up a 3 mpg in a mile span. I had always wondered if something like that would help on a car. How come we don't see race teams doing this?
Last edited by MSP608; Jan 16, 2010 at 01:24 PM.
Jan 16, 2010, 08:35 AM
#24
didn't see the episode, but I have to believe there is a fault in the data. Not being an aero engineer here is my perception
1, nobody would give up 3mpg ( car designers)
2, a nascar looks to be pretty well "airflowed"
3, a trip should accomplish some of the same turbulent attachment.
1, nobody would give up 3mpg ( car designers)
2, a nascar looks to be pretty well "airflowed"
3, a trip should accomplish some of the same turbulent attachment.
Jan 16, 2010, 09:54 AM
#25
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I am an aero engineer, I agree with your observations. There is some benefit for tripping (causing the boundary layer to transition from laminar to turbulent flow) the flow on cars at certain places, but there are so many gaps, bumps, curves, edges, etc. (and the pressure distribution alone causes transition unless carefully designed) that most of the flow is turbulent already.
It would be an unusual styling statement though!
It would be an unusual styling statement though!
Jan 16, 2010, 01:35 PM
#26
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didn't see the episode, but I have to believe there is a fault in the data. Not being an aero engineer here is my perception
1, nobody would give up 3mpg ( car designers)
2, a nascar looks to be pretty well "airflowed"
3, a trip should accomplish some of the same turbulent attachment.
1, nobody would give up 3mpg ( car designers)
2, a nascar looks to be pretty well "airflowed"
3, a trip should accomplish some of the same turbulent attachment.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/m...mpg/#continued
Jan 18, 2010, 07:32 AM
#27
I've seen the episode and it look to me like it does work... funny thing is after that episode i was looking at the underside of my 07 Audi A3 and the under covers for the car are all dimpled about the size of a golf ball, so this has been known for a while at least by Audi.
Jan 18, 2010, 02:52 PM
#28
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I haven't done any back to back testing with and without the VG, but I have had a wing break mid-run and really noticed that the back end of the car got very loose!
Dave
Jan 19, 2010, 10:39 AM
#30
The tech doc on vortex generators: http://private.franzonline.net/mitsu...r%20Effect.pdf