How do Vortex Generators Work? 

Since RU-vid is about to delete annotations, figured I'd post them here for everyone to see. Enjoy the video! 1:59 Whoops, this is meant to be an increase in pressure, not a decrease in pressure, my bad. Click on the card for more detail on the adverse pressure gradient.

Thanks for the lesson Ryan Gosling!

as every genius engineer must, you draw terribly. awesome explanation

I really appreciate the credentials. It's nice to finally see someone on youtube who actually knows their $hit. +1

My favorite part of the video was when you set everyone on fire by proving you have you paper in this field.

I've used this video as a supplemental explanation for my students in aerospace physics. Great job!

mildly informative? bro free engineering classes 🙌 bless your soul haha. I was at ASU studying mechanical engineering joined, FSA too but couldn't wait to build my own stuff. Hence I'm attending a top notch fabricating school. your videos are immensely helpful. I hope to get my fabricating RU-vid page going soon 👍 video editing in process.

When you brought up the example of what they thought when designing the EVO´s aerodynamics I understood exactly how it would play out. It basically helps the wing to do it´s job more properly to push down the rear end for down force.

Did he just predicted that Civic type R will have the vortex generator

Outstanding videos. I'm an aero mech engineer myself, and have a huge passion towards aerodynamics. These vids are like crack to me. Keep 'em coming!

This video was quite helpful to me! It made it a lot easier for me to understand what vortex generators do and how they improve the airflow. Looking at this from an aviation perspective (specifically improving the stall characteristics of wings) this was an incredibly helpful video explaining how that works. I was previously confused as to how disturbing the airflow over the wing could work to improve the stall characteristics, but now it all makes sense! Thank you very much for your highly informative video!

Damn I hate the room where you are speaking... that sound tho...

Excellent, Kyle! I appreciate your diligence and hard work bringing aerospace to the masses

Trust me , i know what im talking about 😂 i love this guy already

This was very helpful and informative! Thank you for taking the time to explain them!!

I so love getting knowledge from someone who actually has some. Thanks for sharing.

Nice work man! U alongside with Engineering Explained make a perfect duo for enlightening us and making our automotive knowledge expand to respectable degree. Thanks

F**k the haters, keep the information flowing!!! (no pun intended)

Sir, you just efficiently described the major parts of my aerodynamics course. Bravo

Great presentation. As an aviator instructor, it helped me to understand and provide an excellent example for explanation.

good video very informative, if i could make a suggestion it would to reduce the echo from the room when filming.

Would love to see examples of the different types of vortex generators you mentioned in a future video. Thanks for these, nice work!

I'm Currently studying to become a aviation maintenance engineer... i had a hard time understanding exactly how vortex generators suck high energy air into the boundary layer... You said the exact same thing my instructor said in his explanation, but just seeing you use a diagram while you explained gave me an epiphany... thank you

Old vids are still informative. Wish I was an aerospace engineer majoring in race car dynamics. I'm just a home hack with no money trying to build race cars in my spare time.

Best aero explanation out there! I'm looking to implement this tech for wing sails, endplated, Sail GP style. They use a double slot wing with a essentially a huge adjustable flap at huge angles. Ive never seen vortex gens on them. As you say, every little helps!

You have no idea how much your video helps me with my term paper. Thanks,

Would it be too much to ask for you to make a video going over the different types of vortex generators like you did on the diffusers?

I have an interest in aerodynamics, esp. for cars, so these videos are very crucial. Thank you for making these.

Why would somebody say you don’t know what your talking about? I have an aeronautical science degree and I enjoyed the refresher. Thank you! Great video!

Great videos - Would love something that goes a bit more in depth on what types of vortex generators the average person might DIY in their garage for a budget limited race car.

Thanxx bro.. finallyyy got it. Have been trying to understand VG , after watching a lot of videos, yours made complete sense. Thanks

aerodynamics tips for better fuel economy please. that would be a great topic that everyone could apply.

really good video. you did not have lots of materials in the video but still the explanations were very much clear enough.

I had no idea there was such a thing. I learned something completely new and your explanation was clear and concise. Subscribed!

When I was a Truck Driver we put Vortex Generator on the aft edge of the cabs and Trailers and the difference that made to stabilizing the vehicles was very impressive, and the unexpected fuel saving was a surprise but very welcomed.

Love what you do, man. As a supportive comment, I'd like to mention there is a science or two on being able to hold the attention of the viewer/listener. I'm talking about audio quality. The ghastly echo in your voice recording which you created by relying on the built in mic of your camera...several feet away, can be easily solved by clipping a small mic to your lapel. You could also use a boom mic just out of your shot, but since you move around a lot, you"d need an operator. In other words, to hold the attention of even seriously interested, technically minded viewers, you need a mic close to your mouth. This will help you present your world class information in a world class manner. Once again, love the great contribution to racing education that you make.

New subscriber, love this. Informative, interesting and best of all. It's understandable. I will never look on a race car the same again.

Best one yet. Love the beginning, chopping up the haters :). Great stuff Kyle. Keep on sharing the knowledge please. Regards JW

Wow this video is amazing. I'm writing a paper on Vortex generators for my minor project and this surely helps!!

That was explained exceptionally well. Thank you!

I will add to what Kyle is saying here - I drive a first generation Dodge Stealth with the so called "banana" spoiler which is at the base of the rear window. I tuft tested it and wound up with swirling blah airflow over the top of it. The tufts went in circles. After I added the vortex generators, the airflow is now nice and straight, top and bottom.

Just discovered your videos, love them bro!

the best explanation with examples thus far.

Man I'm in love with your videos, keep it up

Nicely done!

This has helped me alot in regards to understanding this phenomoinon.

Thanks for the explanation ! Appreciate your work

Thank you, it was very illustrative.

Thanks, Will look to your trainings before the aero stages on the Jag.🏁 Best to you Scott Whitmire

Thanks for the information Kyle. It led to me do a lot more research to understand how they work. I realized that a vortex generator is useless on my car and possibly counterproductive.

Great video! Highly informative.

Hi, I watched your entire video. I don't know anything about this science but found your explanation interesting. Good video.

Pro tip for acoustics, grap some towels or blankets and place them on the floor or around you to dampen some of the eco. Also, good video :)

Nice info. I had no idea! Thanks!

Love the trenchcoat, good info too. Thanks.

Left handed drawing is difficult. I'm left handed so don't sweat it. Clear concise explanation. I'm currently re-engineering my 2017 truck for better gas mileage through engine calibration and I now realize that aero needs to be part of the solution. Underbelly as well as the roof to the rear wing need smoothing in order to cut down the CD of the vehicle to make more progress. 20% savings isn't enough for me.

This is a trip back for someone who just started watching your stuff recently. (I like the beard, fyi)

Very interesting ! Thanks for the explanations

Thank you so much, that helped me a lot. I'll be having my exams on this coming week. I'm an aircraft maintenance engineer.

love your work. im a new subscriber and absolutely love what you do. you remind me of Engineering Explained, but you go more in depth in real world workings rather than just concepts.

Thanks for sharing! I practice kitefoil and I'm building an hydrofoil with a 3d printer using a Naca4412 profile for the front wing, do you think that adding small vortex generators to the leading edge of the wing could help increasing lift and reducing stall angle? Cheers!

You really do need A LOT more subscribers. So in-depth stuff compared to any car related videos on youtube.

Kyle, very well explained. Could you perhaps make a video to explain this concept on another application, be the edge of a bicycle tire. Mavic came out with the CXR and CX01 blade that smoothens the surface area where the tire mounts the rim, yet insisted on using their tire which has tiny ridges to create a gradient vortex at the leading frontal edge of the tire. In trying to understand their design and science I came accros this video. I would be curious to better understand where tp make this vortex on the edgw to have the greatest effect

I really wish more people who think they are gear heads were informed like you are. I have watched videos of people going down the road with there coors beer in there buddys truck calling out every car with any aerodynamic mod on screaming that they are a racer. I would have not know what a Swan Neck Wing was if it was not for your video. You make perfect sense when you explain. keep up the good work

That was absolutely brilliant... Spot on =)

Great video, I've subscribed and am going to watch your other videos. Thank you!

There are many different kinds of vortex generators, such as simple plow, shielded plow, triangular plow, scoop, twist interchanger, ramp, tapered fin, dome, shielded sink, wedge, vane, wing, fences, leading edge fairing, dorsal fin, etc.

Thanks man cool video. I'm personally looking for a way to get air to slip around my truck a little better. It's a small Isuzu rodeo with a flatbed and I'm looking to modify in the future however it needs some aerodynamic work done. Is there anyway to force premature separation?

Great explanation ! Thank you !

Excellent Lecture. A+. Thank You.

Great explanation!

Great explanation! helped a lot, thanks! :)

This is awsome!! Great job

Sir you got a subscription very informative thanks and keep up the good work

Lol love how you flexed your knowledge on us in the beginning of the video 😂

Took me a while to find you. Like your videos. iRacer here PCA coach, so working with aero is new to me. Running a Merc AMG GT3 car. Thank you- it has got me thinking. --S

that was an incredible explanation

Fantastic tute! thank you. Can you tell us if adding vortex generators to the windscreen edge of convertible will help stopping air entering the open top, and turbulence? any thanks

Nice video, good explanation for low velocity air flow. High velocity appears to react very differently, flow separation always occurs.

love the test rig!

Thank you for sharing great work 👍🏿

Such a good lesson, thank you.

thank you very very much for your time and your explanation

Loved the video, definitely subscribing!! I am currently studying and you love to read some of your papers, where could I find them? Cheers Kyle

Cheers mate, Very helpful and good and the Explanation along with applying the Scientific Proof of what Vortex Generaters do. 💯

Dude your videos are awesome!!

Thanks very much for this video. In between people like yourself, and being given a copy of 'Race Car Engineering by Paul Van Valkenburg' when I was 8, I feel more confident in making aero changes to my race car, because I feel like I might have half an idea what I'm doing now, as a privately funded person without oodles of cash or a wind tunnel.

Kyle really out here proving his credentials serving up blade runner looks we don't deserve him

Thank you Kyle 🏁🙏🏼👌🏼

I enjoyed it and I done a learn. Thanks.

Because people hate on your vid is because you are alot smarter than all the haters together.

You got my like on the intro, i cannot wait to hear more :)_

You got a subscriber and a like from me. Thank you and please keep it up, this has been informative and it made complete sense. The reason I watched the video is because I am trying to improve my car for autocross and I wanted to learn about vortex generators. This was exactly what I needed. The only question I have left to answer is do they make more of an impact at higher speeds, my inclination is to say yes as it is probably easier to measure the impact they make at higher speeds vs lower speeds, but the effect they have is present regardless of speed, therefore I think it is wise to install these if your goal is to improve track times. Also I like the bit where you explain the "flaw" behind the evo designed vortex generators, as they are not the most efficient vortex generators, so I should do some research and find vortex generators that actually work before making a purchase. If you have a recommendation on a manufacturer of aftermarket vortex generators that would be superb (or you could always make them yourself, as I am sure you could make a competing product. Also wouldn't you think it help improve track times if vortex generators were installed at every angle?).

Great videos! Thanks man!

Thx alot for explain and presentations

I see vortex generators on airplanes that need increased short take-off performance also. Thanks for the informative vid. Now i have a better understanding of how those devices work.

Never knew Ryan Gosling is a aerodynamic expert. Great video btw!

Most enlightening, great stuff ... I like seeing cars with VGs and no spoiler. Hehehe ...

Great video!

Thank you for the informative video! Would adding some vortex generator on a street car have any benefit at all? I am thinking about a bit reduced fuel usage on a highway around 130-160 km/h. What about downforce? Would a laminar flow over the vehicle increase the downforce a bit? I have a 6 gen Civic VTi, and I wouldn't mind a bit lower fuel consumption on the highway for "free". Also it would reduce the noise a bit I guess (less drag>less power required for same speed>maybe not that loud). I love the sound of the car on a mountain road, but for a 2 hour drive it's not that pleasant.