Primer on how exactly drag is modeled now?

[herbal space program]

Hello all,

I am working hard on making the most efficient SSTO I can, and of course minimizing drag is a key consideration in doing this. My problem is that I don't have a clear understanding at all of exactly how drag is modeled in 1.0.3/4, and I can't seem to find a good explanation of it sitting around anywhere. For example, are all wings alike in terms of lift vs. drag? Are wide wings draggier than narrow ones, as they would be IRL, or does it not matter? For non-wing parts, is the key consideration just cross section wrt oncoming air, or does the shape matter? If anyone has a link to a basic discussion of this, I would really appreciate it, because I'm basically in the dark about how to improve my design's aerodynamic performance right now. Thanks!

Edited June 27, 2015 by herbal space program

[Claw]

I suggest reading this thread (which is stickied in this sub forum). It will hopefully act as the primer you are looking for. The only change of significance from the OP in that thread is that drag coefficients based on part shape are now modified so that pointy parts act a bit more pointy (which is explained in the last post in that thread).

Cheers,

~Claw

[herbal space program]

I suggest reading this thread (which is stickied in this sub forum). It will hopefully act as the primer you are looking for. The only change of significance from the OP in that thread is that drag coefficients based on part shape are now modified so that pointy parts act a bit more pointy (which is explained in the last post in that thread).

Cheers,

~Claw

Thanks! That has exactly the information I was looking for.

Edited June 27, 2015 by herbal space program