Jump to content

Solar panel OX-4L negate the drag reduction effect of fairings


Kaa253

Recommended Posts

  • KSP Version: 0.1.0.0.20892
  • Operating System: Windoze 10 because FPS in Linux is currently too poor on my potato
  • CPU, GPU, RAM: i7-2600K, GTX 1650, 16Gb DDR3
  • Description of the bug: Placing any OX-4L solar panel on any payload inside a fairing causes the drag reduction effect of the fairing to disappear.
    • Expected Behavior: OX-4L part should not add to craft drag when inside a fairing, nor should it remove all drag mitigating effects a fairing is having on all the other parts inside the fairing.
    • Observed Behaviour: When an OX-4L is placed on a payload inside a fairing the Total Drag (as shown on the F12 AeroGUI) changes to the same value as if the fairing were already jetisoned. 
  • Steps to Replicate:
    • Build a simple probe with a poor aerodynamic profile. My probe was 1xOKTO,  1xPB-X150, 1xST-Micro-4 truss and I put 5 small SP-S06 structural panels on the front of the probe oriented flat side on to the direction of flight. Launch this (on a BACC Thumper with fins for example) with no fairing and at 5 km altitude record the Total Drag value from the F12 GUI dialog. My result, Total Drag  = 198.8 kN
    • Now cover over the same probe with a fairing AE-FF125 "Cockleshell" and reduce the amount of argon in the payload to bring the mass down by the an amount equal to the fairing mass. Launch again same thumper and at 5 km observe the Total Drag. My result, Total Drag = 24.5 kN
    • Now finally add a OX-4L solar panel inside the fairing attached to the truss and launch again. My result, Total Drag = 255.1 kN
    • Optional exercise 1: Launch again with OX-4L but pre-jettison fairing in VAB. My result, Total Drag = 237.7 kN
    • Optional exercise 2: Launch again replacing OX-4L with solar panel OX-4W and closed fairing. My result, Total Drag = 26.0 kN (i.e. no problem)
  • Fixes / Workarounds: Don't use the OX-4L until the bug is fixed, instead use only OX-4W solar panels.
  • A list of ALL mods: It doesn't matter as I have replicated without mods but I do normally use  Space-Warp, Maneuver Node Controller, Sticky Orbit Markers and Micro Engineer, also "JOINT_RIGIDITY": 1500000.0, in PhysicsSettings.json
  • Other Notes / Screenshots / Log Files: None this time

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...

How do you get that "F12 AeroGUI" to open? I've tried F12, holding F12, Alt F12 and nothing shows of it. There is no mention of it in the key bindings. I am still having an issue in Patch - v0.1.2.0 that may be related to this. My only solar panels are the OX-STAT which are the small flat surface attached non extendable panels. I am seeing airstreams extending from wing tips under the AE-FF500 "Quahog" fairing and my ship structures secured by numerous ST-S-4 (5m small square truss) are bending under increased airspeed. I want to use this GUI to evaluate what might be going on with a small scale test like what you performed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...