KSP doesn't properly regenerate the physics.cfg file

[juanml82]

So, I was having issues with the cargo bay overheating adjacent parts in flight and read here a suggestion to rename the physics.cfg file so KSP will regenerate it.

The regenerated file doesn't produce reentry visual effects and doesn't radiate away the heat from Nerv engines, meaning they don't cool off in vacuum.

[FlowerChild]

I can confirm this. Deleting the file and letting it regenerate not only turns off reentry visual effects, but also results in radically different values for some of the other entries. You're not just playing without visuals, the aero and heating will also be different.

I think your best bet is to try to redownload the original file.

If you don't mind editing and replacing the contents of physics.cfg yourself, this is what a fresh 1.04 download from Steam has in that file (I backed it up as I run periodic tests on my own to make sure it hasn't been corrupted during my modding):

dragMultiplier = 8
dragCubeMultiplier = 0.1
angularDragMultiplier = 2
liftMultiplier = 0.036
liftDragMultiplier = 0.015
bodyLiftMultiplier = 18
aeroFXScalar = 1
aeroFXDensityExponent = 0.75
aeroFXStartThermalFX = 2
aeroFXFullThermalFX = 3.5
aeroFXExponent = 3.0
thermalMaxIntegrationWarp = 100
spaceTemperature = 4
solarLuminosityAtHome = 1360
solarInsolationAtHome = 0.15
convectionDensityExponent = 0.5
convectionVelocityExponent = 3.0
convectionFactorSplashed = 5000
fullConvectionAreaMin = -0.2
fullToCrossSectionLerpStart = 0.8
fullToCrossSectionLerpEnd = 1.5
machConvectionStart = 2
machConvectionEnd = 4.0
machConvectionExponent = 3
turbulentConvectionStart = 100
turbulentConvectionEnd = 200
turbulentConvectionMult = 100
machTemperatureScalar = 21
machTemperatureVelocityExponent = 0.75
partEmissivityExponent = 4
radiationFactor = 1
convectionFactor = 6
newtonianConvectionFactorBase = 8.14
newtonianConvectionFactorTotal = 4.0
newtonianDensityExponent = 0.5
newtonianVelocityExponent = 1.0
conductionFactor = 20
internalHeatProductionFactor = 0.025
aerodynamicHeatProductionFactor = 1.0
standardSpecificHeatCapacity = 800
skinSkinConductionFactor = 0.06
skinInteralConductionFactor = 0.4
shieldedConductionFactor = 0.01
DRAG_TIP
{
	key = 0 1 0 0
	key = 25 1 0 0
}
DRAG_SURFACE
{
	key = 0 0.02 0 0
	key = 0.85 0.02 0 0
	key = 0.9 0.0152439 -0.07942077 -0.07942077
	key = 1.1 0.0025 -0.005279571 -0.001936768
	key = 2 0.002083333 -2.314833E-05 -2.314833E-05
	key = 5 0.003333333 -0.000180556 -0.000180556
	key = 25 0.001428571 -7.14286E-05 0
}
DRAG_TAIL
{
	key = 0 1 0 0
	key = 0.85 1 0 0
	key = 1.1 0.25 -0.02215106 -0.02487721
	key = 1.4 0.22 -0.03391732 -0.03391732
	key = 5 0.15 -0.001198566 -0.001198566
	key = 25 0.14 0 0
}
DRAG_MULTIPLIER
{
	key = 0 0.5 0 0
	key = 0.85 0.5 0 0
	key = 1.1 1.3 0 -0.008100224
	key = 2 0.7 -0.1104858 -0.1104858
	key = 5 0.6 0 0
	key = 10 0.85 0.02198264 0.02198264
	key = 14 0.9 0.007694946 0.007694946
	key = 25 0.95 0 0
}
DRAG_CD
{
	key = 0.05 0.0025 0.15 0.15
	key = 0.15 0.0225 0.3 0.3
	key = 0.25 0.0625 0.5 0.5
	key = 0.35 0.1225 0.7 0.7
	key = 0.45 0.2025 0.9 0.9
	key = 0.55 0.3025 1.1 1.1
	key = 0.65 0.4225 1.3 1.3
	key = 0.75 0.5625 1.5 1.5
	key = 0.8 0.66 2.3775 2.3775
	key = 0.85 0.8 2.733777 2.733777
	key = 0.9 0.89 1.1 1.1
	key = 1 1 1 1
}
LIFTING_SURFACE_CURVES
{
	LIFTING_SURFACE
	{
		name = Default
		lift
		{
			key = 0 0 0 1.965926
			key = 0.258819 0.5114774 1.990092 1.905806
			key = 0.5 0.9026583 0.7074468 -0.7074468
			key = 0.7071068 0.5926583 -2.087948 -1.990095
			key = 1 0 -2.014386 -2.014386
		}
		liftMach
		{
			key = 0 1 0 0
			key = 0.3 0.5 -1.671345 -0.8273422
			key = 1 0.125 -0.0005291355 -0.02625772
			key = 5 0.0625 0 0
			key = 25 0.05 0 0
		}
		drag
		{
			key = 0 0.01 0 0
			key = 0.3420201 0.06 0.1750731 0.1750731
			key = 0.5 0.24 2.60928 2.60928
			key = 0.7071068 1.7 3.349777 3.349777
			key = 1 2.4 1.387938 0
		}
		dragMach
		{
			key = 0 0.35 0 -0.8463008
			key = 0.15 0.125 0 0
			key = 0.9 0.275 0.541598 0.541598
			key = 1.1 0.75 0 0
			key = 1.4 0.4 -0.3626955 -0.3626955
			key = 1.6 0.35 -0.1545923 -0.1545923
			key = 2 0.3 -0.09013031 -0.09013031
			key = 5 0.22 0 0
			key = 25 0.3 0.0006807274 0
		}
	}
	LIFTING_SURFACE
	{
		name = BodyLift
		lift
		{
			key = 0 0 0 1.975376
			key = 0.309017 0.5877852 1.565065 1.565065
			key = 0.5877852 0.9510565 0.735902 0.735902
			key = 0.7071068 1 0 0
			key = 0.8910065 0.809017 -2.70827 -2.70827
			key = 1 0 -11.06124 0
		}
		liftMach
		{
			key = 0.3 0.167 0 0
			key = 0.8 0.167 0 -0.3904104
			key = 1 0.125 -0.0005291355 -0.02625772
			key = 5 0.0625 0 0
			key = 25 0.05 0 0
		}
		drag
		{
			key = 0 0 0 0
		}
		dragMach
		{
			key = 0 0 0 0
		}
	}
	LIFTING_SURFACE
	{
		name = SpeedBrake
		lift
		{
			key = 0 0 0 0
		}
		liftMach
		{
			key = 0 0 0 0
		}
		drag
		{
			key = 0 0.01 0 0
			key = 0.3420201 0.06 0.1750731 0.1750731
			key = 0.5 0.24 2.60928 2.60928
			key = 0.7071068 1.7 3.349777 3.349777
			key = 1 2.4 1.387938 0
		}
		dragMach
		{
			key = 0 0.35 0 -0.8463008
			key = 0.15 0.125 0 0
			key = 0.9 0.275 0.541598 0.541598
			key = 1.1 0.75 0 0
			key = 1.4 0.4 -0.3626955 -0.3626955
			key = 1.6 0.35 -0.1545923 -0.1545923
			key = 2 0.3 -0.09013031 -0.09013031
			key = 5 0.22 0 0
			key = 25 0.3 0.0006807274 0
		}
	}
}

Edited July 1, 2015 by FlowerChild

[Space.exe]

If you are using steam, and its a game file NOT a save file you can Verify Integrity Of Game Cache

To install missing/removed game files. You can do this by going into steam. Then find the game ksp. Right click it and head to the tab named local files. Click on the option named Verify Integrity Of Game Cache it may take a while.

If its a Save File you can generate a new game save and copy over the new Physics.cfg file.

Also as flower child did install something like notepad ++ and open your Physics.cfg and tweak the settings to your liking.

Edited July 1, 2015 by Space.exe

[sal_vager]

Just a note on the LV-N, you will still need radiators to remove their heat while in space, they won't radiate very well on their own and heat conduction to other parts is slow.

Re-entry effects will occur but under different conditions to those that players coming from an earlier version of KSP expect, they are supposed to better coincide with the times that parts are actually getting hot.

Edit: I see what you mean, the internal defaults don't match the file in the zip, doing some testing here.

Edit2:

Yeah this is wrong, you can find the file here.

Edited July 1, 2015 by sal_vager

[FlowerChild]

Edit: I see what you mean, the internal defaults don't match the file in the zip, doing some testing here.

Yup, exactly. I deleted my file at one point because the values had gone all wonky (including the disappearing affects previously mentioned), and let it regenerate. It took me awhile to realize I was essentially playing with completely different physics than what's normally in stock

I can't confirm this part yet, and have no steps to reproduce, but it might be worth keeping in mind for your further support adventures that I have a sneaking suspicion there may be something in the game that causes the file to become corrupt. I've been running periodic diffs on the original to make sure that isn't happening, but have yet to be able to reproduce it.

[sal_vager]

Well the file can be edited from within KSP, the debug menu options for heat are saved to that file, so the players changes are persistent.

[FlowerChild]

Well the file can be edited from within KSP, the debug menu options for heat are saved to that file, so the players changes are persistent.

Yeah, I hadn't edited them at all at that point (I do use that menu to turn on debug info though so there's always the possibility a miss-click did something), and changes done through ModuleManager don't get saved to the file, so I haven't had it occur since I started making those either.

Anyways, just mentioned it as something to keep in the back of your mind if you happen to run into related support requests. I have no proof, and can not reproduce, so it's really nothing more than a suspicion on my part.

[astrobond]

Hi all

Same problem here...

I use KSP on two computers (home/work) just copying the save directory each time I change computer, and at work I have very often the problem of this thread !!!

I found the solution to copy a fresh "physics.cfg" file, but the problem is not always solved, and even when it's solved, next time use ksp the problem is back...

BTW, never had that problem at home with the same save directory.

any idea ?

Found the solution here !

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/128240-No-heat-effects-on-re-entry

Thank's sal_vager

Edited August 7, 2015 by astrobond
Solution ! :