what are these stuck on Aero thingies?

[KrautBurner]

I've seen this guy on the way to work for a couple years.
kinda curious what these things are and if/how they work?

[Frank Lee]

You somehow missed all the conversations about air tabs?

[KrautBurner]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

You somehow missed all the conversations about air tabs?

yes,
mr 11,xxx posts, I have missed all the OLD conversations about something that I have never seen or known what to call them

[KrautBurner]

thanks FRANK LEE
even though you were being a condescending ass, you did help me by providing a term to look up

Airtab | Aerodynamic Fuel Savers | How Airtabs Work


they claim that they can help with more than just fuel

Spray Reduction and Stability

Drivers report improved mirror visibility in rain or snow conditions yielding safer lane changes and better visibility for other road users. Improved stability and handling in windy conditions is reported by all drivers. This reduces driver workload, stress and fatigue

Road Grime Reduction

Because Airtabs™ alter the airflow at the rear of the vehicle, the partial vacuum there is reduced. There is less accumulation of road grime or snow. Less road grime means advertising remains more visible and the company’s image is enhanced. Less snow build up means less weight to haul and conspicuity tape, tail, running and brake lights, especially low temp LEDs, stay visible longer.

[Frank Lee]

I am always here to help. Remember that you ungrateful snot.

[ChazInMT]

They're vortex generators. It is considered by some, myself included, to be a fad device. The most effective aspect of the design is to make money for the people selling them. They have legitimate uses on aircraft, but on ground transport no one has really shown them to have a great effect, if any.

They are purported to help maintain attached flow longer to help reduce drag, or to allow the air to fill in the void behind a vehicle faster thus reducing drag.

2 basic things working against them are:

They are purported to create a turbulent boundary layer which helps to create attached flow...well, all ground vehicles have a continuous turbulent boundary layer, there really isn't laminar flow on ground vehicles. And that's OK.

There is a huge volume of air that is affected by the passing of a vehicle through it, it is NOT just the air rushing over the 2 inches above the surface of the vehicle that is moved about but several 10's of feet of air around it and many hundreds of feet behind that all matter. The VG's are essentially blades of grass in a hurricane breeze and really cannot alter enough of the flow of air in such a way as to make a difference.

Search "vortex generators" here in ecomodder, the subject has been thoroughly hashed out several times.

Like HHO, this is a subject of often contentious debate. I only hope it leads you to further try and learn the basics of aerodynamics so you can understand that these are kazoos trying to be in the Philharmonic.

[ChazInMT]

Well I see the contentiousness is faster than my lousy ability to type. I thought I was going to be the first to answer.

[LeanBurn]

Come on guys. Be nice.

[Fat Charlie]

That is Frank Lee being nice.

[Frank Lee]

Lolz!