Case Study: ATA Engineering, Inc. achieves time-accurate 3-D fluid-structure interaction simulation of rocket engine nozzles with Dassault Systèmes' SIMULIA

ATA Engineering, Inc. - Customer Case Study

ATA Engineering, Inc. was asked to fine-tune the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) nozzles for NASA’s next-generation launch vehicles but faced incomplete field data and strict cost constraints. To understand the complex fluid-structure interaction (FSI) driving nozzle deformation and side loads, ATA turned to Dassault Systemes’ SIMULIA tools, notably the Abaqus finite element analysis solver and the SIMULIA Co‑Simulation Engine (CSE), to develop a realistic, coupled simulation approach.

Using Dassault Systemes’ SIMULIA CSE to link Abaqus with a Loci/CHEM CFD flow solver, ATA ran two sequential, fully coupled, time‑accurate 3D FSI simulations (startup shape and subsequent dynamics). The results produced the first-ever time‑accurate 3D FSI prediction of nozzle behavior, matched NASA’s physical observations, kept CPU requirements reasonable, and led to ATA being selected to continue work within NASA’s SLS program — demonstrating measurable validation of side‑load and deformation predictions and enabling safer weight-optimization opportunities.

ATA Engineering, Inc.

Eric Blades

Director of Southeastern Regional Operations