About Us
From 1990 to the present, FCI has
provided analytical and test support to single and multiple stage to orbit launch vehicle propulsion system development programs,
and hypersonic missile propulsion system analysis. Cycle analysis types include ramjet, rocket, ejector-ramjet,
and other combinations using hydrogen or hydrocarbon fuels and fuel additives. Significant analysis experience in Rocket-Based-Combined-Cycle
(RBCC) and Liquid Air Cycle Engine (LACE) systems. External aerodynamic heating and engine thermal management
support have been provided on several high-speed engine and airframe development programs. Past programs
include external and combustor heating evaluations and endothermic heat exchanger analysis for a Mach 6 block speed scramjet
missile development program and performance trades on hydrazine and MMH rocket thrusters. Recently completed
contract with the Air Force to evaluate air breathing and rocket earth-to-orbit concepts and Thermal Protection System (TPS)
requirements, and with the private sector in attitude control thruster systems thermal management and preliminary design options
for rocket engine reliability and health management. Past commercial programs include thermal and reliability analysis support
for bipropellant thrusters; plus many monopropellant thrusters used in station keeping and de-orbit maneuvers.
Subject matter expert support to USSTRATCOM & OUSD AT&L S&TS SW.
FCI
has also supplied analytical support as a second-tier subcontractor to product oriented aerospace companies and provided Thermal
Analysis, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, Reliability Assessment, Critical Items List, Trends Analysis and Limited Life
Analysis for multiple satellite electromechanical subsystems. Analysis of antenna pointing mechanisms,
solar array drives, and general motor driven actuator assemblies are typical applications. Satellite programs
include Intelsat VI, JPL’s Cassini, TES, AIRS and MSL programs, Japan’s ADEOS I & II program, Italy’s
SICRAL program, and other programs such as Clementine, FTS, New Millennium, CERES, KOMPSAT, SBIRS, AEHF, and LRO.
Recently finished contracts supporting the leading edge flap actuation system thermal analysis for the F-35 program
and an antenna pointing mechanism for GSFC’s Global Precipitation Measurement project.
Client List
Edwards AFB Rocket Propulsion Lab ● OUSD (AT&L)/S&TS/Strategic
Warfare ● USSTRATCOM TPS SME ● Air Force Chief Scientists
Office ● Virgin Galactic
The Spaceship Company ●
MOOG ● AMPAC ● Sierra Nevada Corp ● SPARTA ● STARSYS
● Applied Astronautics ● TGV Rockets ● WASK ● Aeroflex Inc.
Advatech Pacific ● Composite Technology
Development Inc.● Joseph Hepp Engineering ● CFDRC ●
D&E Engineering ● Southwest Research Institute
Rocketplane
● Space Access ● Jackson & Tull
● Sierra Lobo Inc ● ERC Inc. ●
TurboSolutions ● NEA Electronics
"Tactical Success via Technology: A System Evaluation of Advanced Missile Options,"
A Faulkner, J. Mossman, and E Paulson, 63rd JANNAF Propulsion Meeting, AFRL-RQ-ED-TP-2016-102, May 2016
"Improving the Solid Rocket Tradespace for Reliability and Weight Optimzation,"
A.M. Faulkner and A. Le, December 2011 JANNAF MSS/LPS/SPS Joint Subcommittee Meeting, AFRL-RZ-ED-VG-2011-531
“Liquid Rocket Engine Reliability Predictions
Using AFRRAT - (Air Force Rocket Reliability Analysis Tool),” A. Faulkner and J. Riley, AFRL-RZ-ED-TP-2010-172, May
2010
“Conventional Prompt Global Strike
(CPGS) Thermal Protection System (TPS) Design Considerations,” A. Faulkner and F. Friedl, AFRL-RZ-ED-TP-2009-213,
June 2009
“Air Force Rocket Reliability Analysis Tool (AFRRAT),”
A.M. Faulkner and J.M. Riley, AFRL-RZ-ED-TP-2008-551, Dec 2008
“Engine
Development Approach for FAST Propulsion System Requirements,” D. Mohr, P.K. Sgarlata, N. D”Orsi,
A.M. Faulkner, 54th JANNAF Propulsion Meeting (JPM), 3rd Liquid Propulsion Subcommittee (LPS), 2nd Spacecraft Propulsion
Subcommittee (SPS), and 5th Modeling and Simulation Subcommittee (MSS) Joint Meeting in Denver, CO, 14-17 May 2007
“Aeroheating Trade Study for Multiple Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) Trajectories
and Thermal Protection System (TPS) Options,” A.M. Faulkner and C.H. Cho, AFRL-PR-ED-TP-2007-217 May
2007
"NEPP-TBCC:
A Turbine-Based Combined Cycle Propulsion Performance Code,” E. Paulson and A.M. Faulkner, AFRL-PR-ED-TP-2007-197,
May 2007
“Full Scale Ejector Ramjet Mixer Optimization”, A.M. Faulkner, W. Burkhardt
and Dr. A.Le, Dec 2005 JANNAF Propulsion Conference, Monterey, CA.
“Air Breathing Launch Vehicle Weights Estimating Relationship Database”,
E. Paulson and A.M. Faulkner, AFRL-PR-ED-TP-2005-192, June 2005
“AFWAT: Air Force Weights Analysis Tool; A Method of Calculating Reusable Launch Vehicle
Weights”, A.M. Faulkner and C. Cho, AFRL-PR-ED-TP-2005-167, June 2005
“Evaluation
of a Hydrocarbon Ejector Ramjet RBCC for a Reusable TSTO Space Operations Vehicle (SOV)”, A.M. Faulkner,
J.G. Bendot and L.E. McKinney, AFRL-PR-ED-TR-2003-0041
"Advanced Vehicle Systems Modeling and Simulation (AVSMS) Task Order 1: Common Aero Vehicle
(CAV) Aeroheating," A. Faulkner, AFRL-PR-ED-TR-2006-0062, December 2006
“Propulsion Technology Assessment of the Advanced Rocket Combined
Cycle (Ejector Ramjet) for Tactical Missile Applications,” Dr. M. Director, A.M. Faulkner, et. al., Nov 2002 JANNAF Propulsion Conference
“Alternate
Engine Design LOX- Spray System (U)”, 89-137, , NASP LIMA; 10/26/89
“Thermal
Considerations for Module and Unit Design”, Hughes Aircraft Technical Digest, Oct1987
Analysis Codes
GAS PROPERTIES & THERMOCHEMISTRY CODES
CET85
– NASA Lewis Research “Chemical Equilibrium with Transport Properties” by Gordon, McBride
MIPROP – Liquid and real gas properties for para -hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and various hydrocarbon
fuels, etc. as a function of pressure and temperature.
AIRPROP
– Liquid and real gas properties for air as a function of pressure and temperature.
WEIGHT
ESTIMATING CODES
AFWAT – Air Force Weight Analysis
Tool as developed by FCI under contract to AFRL Edwards for TSTO launch vehicle weight estimations.
PROPULSION ANALYSIS CODES
ENG92/2003 – Wright Pat propulsion analysis code for rockets, ramjets and air-augmented rockets
or RBCC engines (ENG2003 as updated by FCI).
NEPP-TBCC –
Turbine Based Combined Cycle code as updated by FCI using the NASA Engine Performance Program
SJ20/21/22 – Wright Pat propulsion analysis codes for real gas analysis of
scramjets, ramjets and dual mode engine cycles. GUI’s for all programs as updated by FCI.
HAP – Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion Code by Heiser and Pratt.
RJPA
- Ramjet Performance Analysis by JHU/APL, P. Pandolfini and M. Friedman; real gas ram/scram analysis
TRAJECTORY ANALYSIS CODES
ETO – Wright Lab 2-DOF flight trajectory program for any combination of airbreathing or rocket
propulsion. Constant or linearly varying dynamic pressure.
POST
II – Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories restricted use release by NASA/LaRC
HEAT TRANSFER & AEROHEATING CODES
SINDA/G – A
finite differencing 3-D thermal analysis code from Network Analysis Associates, Inc. (formerly Gaski SINDA) version 2.3
TRASYS/TSS – Radiation analysis code available through NASA (TRASYS) and Space3D (TSS) that
formats output compatible as the input to SINDA.
MINIVER
– Aerodynamic heating analysis program from McDonnell Douglas.
EKCT – High temperature duct heating for use in propulsion system analysis based on the Eckert
reference temperature method with Blasius skin friction. Developed in-house by FCI.
ATAC v5/6/7 – Aeroheating Thermal Analysis Code by ITT-AES for non-axisymmetric aeroheating,
charring and ablation shape change, determination of aerodynamic factors for continuum and bridging functions
RELIABILITY ANALYSIS CODE
AFRRAT
– Air Force Rocket Reliability Analysis Tool as developed by FCI under contract to AFRL Edwards.
To Contact Us
1245 Travis Blvd. Suite B
Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business
Cage Code 3C483 NAICS 541330 and 541712
Come on by and see us at work on Travis
Blvd. in Fairfield, CA
Problems with our site?
Send
your questions, comments or ideas to MikeSFCI@cs.com. For issues that are of particular interest to the the community, we may publish (with your permission)
your questions along with our answers on this web site.
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Panel Expert for JANNAF Specialist Section on Modeling and Simulation; Failure History
of Liquid Rockets in Dec 2008 Chosen
" Small Business of the Month" by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers,
San Francisco
Section, in January 1997. |
Did You Say RAMJETS Aren't Practical?!? We wish there was something like BOMARC in 2012...
