I ran simulations and here's the raw data. We're looking at the velocity when fuel tanks hit empty rather than max altitude because it's more linear for percentage comparison. (Max altitude would be exponential since gravity's capacity to decelerate decreases the further away you get) Added weight for cones is not accounted for because we are looking at their capacity to increase efficiency and thus "be worth the extra weight". Structural pieces' weight is considered negligeable (-2.6% for 3 1x4, thus likely -0.9% for the 4 1x1)
Objects were launched at 100% thrust, 100% vertical.
Straight, No-Cone "Control" : 100%
A-frame, Exposed-Gap : 90.9%
A-Frame, Enclosed-Gap : 90.9‰
A-Frame, No-Cone : 92.6%
A-Frame, Coned, Structural for reference : 112.4%
A-Frame, Coned : 114.2%
A-Frame, Directinal Coned : 114.2%
Straight, Coned : 122.8%
These results are most unexpected. I'm surprised that Straight is more efficient than A-Frame ; and that a gap under the cone (still covering 1/3 surface area) is worse than no cones at all. I'd be tempted to say "bug?"
Objects were launched at 100% thrust, 100% vertical.
Straight, No-Cone "Control" : 100%
A-frame, Exposed-Gap : 90.9%
A-Frame, Enclosed-Gap : 90.9‰
A-Frame, No-Cone : 92.6%
A-Frame, Coned, Structural for reference : 112.4%
A-Frame, Coned : 114.2%
A-Frame, Directinal Coned : 114.2%
Straight, Coned : 122.8%
These results are most unexpected. I'm surprised that Straight is more efficient than A-Frame ; and that a gap under the cone (still covering 1/3 surface area) is worse than no cones at all. I'd be tempted to say "bug?"
Test 2:
Given that drag is based on exposed surface area, regardless of direction (based on straight being more efficient than A-Frame)...
It's not worth protecting the sides with extra cones... They just add more weight. (Note the design is taller because adding side cones to the previous design made flight unstable. In this test, some flight corrections were made as the coned versions pull to the right a bit)
Given that drag is based on exposed surface area, regardless of direction (based on straight being more efficient than A-Frame)...
It's not worth protecting the sides with extra cones... They just add more weight. (Note the design is taller because adding side cones to the previous design made flight unstable. In this test, some flight corrections were made as the coned versions pull to the right a bit)