Rocket Engine Design and Simulation

# Rocket Propulsion System Design & Analysis Project – Capability Assessment Request Hi I am looking for an aerospace engineer, propulsion engineer, researcher, or consultant with strong expertise in liquid rocket propulsion to support a comprehensive propulsion engineering project. Before discussing pricing or timelines, I would like to understand whether you possess the required technical background, software proficiency, and project experience to execute a project of this scope. This is not a simple academic assignment. The objective is to perform a complete conceptual and preliminary design study of a liquid rocket engine and associated propulsion subsystems using industry-standard methodologies and software. --- # Project Objective The goal is to develop a complete propulsion engineering package for a liquid rocket engine from initial requirements through preliminary design, analysis, and verification. The project should demonstrate the workflow used by propulsion engineers working in organizations such as: * SpaceX * Blue Origin * Rocket Lab * European Space Agency * NASA * ArianeGroup This project is intended as a propulsion engineering portfolio, learning exercise, and engineering demonstration project. The project should follow professional aerospace engineering standards, assumptions, documentation, calculations, analyses, and design methodology. --- # Desired Engine Type The consultant should be capable of designing and analyzing one or more of the following: ### Option 1 LOX/RP-1 Liquid Rocket Engine ### Option 2 LOX/Methane Liquid Rocket Engine ### Option 3 LOX/LH2 Liquid Rocket Engine The final selection can be discussed based on feasibility and educational value. --- # Required Technical Scope The project should include as many of the following areas as possible. --- # 1. Mission Requirements Definition Development of: * Mission objectives * Vehicle assumptions * Delta-V assumptions * Thrust requirements * Burn duration * Propellant selection rationale * Chamber pressure targets * Mixture ratio selection * Performance goals Deliverables: * Requirements document * Design assumptions document * Mission analysis report --- # 2. Propellant Selection Trade Study Comparison of: * LOX/RP-1 * LOX/Methane * LOX/LH2 Evaluation criteria: * Specific impulse * Density impulse * Storage complexity * Cost * Reusability * Cooling considerations * Manufacturing considerations Deliverables: * Trade matrix * Selection justification --- # 3. Thermochemical Analysis Use of: * NASA CEA Required outputs: * Adiabatic flame temperature * Molecular weight * Characteristic velocity * Vacuum Isp * Sea-level Isp * Equilibrium performance * Frozen performance Deliverables: * Input files * Output reports * Interpretation of results --- # 4. Engine Cycle Selection Trade study between: * Pressure-fed * Gas generator * Expander cycle * Staged combustion * Full-flow staged combustion Required analysis: * Advantages * Disadvantages * Complexity * Cost * Risk Deliverables: * Engine cycle selection report --- # 5. Rocket Engine Sizing Complete preliminary sizing calculations: * Thrust * Mass flow rate * Chamber pressure * Mixture ratio * Expansion ratio * Characteristic length * Chamber dimensions Deliverables: * Calculation workbook * Engineering report --- # 6. Injector Design Analysis of: * Showerhead injectors * Impinging injectors * Pintle injectors * Coaxial injectors Deliverables: * Selection rationale * Preliminary sizing * Injector geometry --- # 7. Combustion Chamber Design Design and sizing of: * Chamber geometry * Chamber length * Chamber diameter * Residence time * L* calculations Deliverables: * Engineering calculations * CAD model --- # 8. Nozzle Design Design of: * Convergent section * Throat * Divergent section Analysis of: * Bell nozzle * Conical nozzle Required calculations: * Expansion ratio * Area ratio * Exit pressure * Exit velocity Deliverables: * Geometry definition * CAD model * Performance report --- # 9. Regenerative Cooling Analysis Required: * Cooling channel concepts * Heat transfer calculations * Thermal load estimation * Coolant pressure drop Deliverables: * Thermal report * Cooling analysis report --- # 10. Turbomachinery Design (if applicable) Preliminary design of: * Fuel pump * Oxidizer pump * Turbine Required calculations: * Pump power * Turbine power * Pressure rise * Rotational speed Deliverables: * Preliminary turbomachinery sizing report --- # 11. Feed System Design Development of: * Tanks * Feed lines * Valves * Pressurization systems Deliverables: * Feed system schematic * Mass estimates --- # 12. Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) Creation of: * Complete propulsion architecture Including: * Valves * Sensors * Pumps * Tanks * Flow paths Deliverables: * P&ID drawing --- # 13. CAD Development Software preferred: * SolidWorks * CATIA * Siemens NX * Fusion 360 Expected models: * Injector * Chamber * Nozzle * Feed system * Assembly model Deliverables: * Native CAD files * STEP files * Technical drawings --- # 14. CFD Analysis Software: * ANSYS Fluent * ANSYS CFX * OpenFOAM * STAR-CCM+ Potential analyses: ### Internal Flow * Chamber flow * Nozzle flow ### Thermal Analysis * Heat flux * Wall temperature ### Combustion Analysis * Simplified combustion modelling Deliverables: * Mesh files * Solver setup * Results * Validation discussion --- # 15. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Software: * ANSYS Mechanical * Abaqus * Nastran Analysis: * Pressure loading * Thermal loading * Structural integrity * Safety factor Deliverables: * FEA report * Stress plots * Deformation plots --- # 16. EcosimPro Modelling Preferred if consultant has experience. Required: * Propulsion system architecture * Dynamic simulation * Start-up transient analysis * Feed system simulation Deliverables: * EcosimPro model * Simulation results --- # 17. System-Level Modelling Software: * MATLAB * Simulink * Python * EcosimPro Analysis: * Performance simulation * Sensitivity analysis * Parametric studies Deliverables: * Model files * Technical report --- # 18. Verification and Validation The consultant should explain: * Assumptions * Limitations * Validation methods * Comparison with literature Deliverables: * Validation report --- # 19. Mass Budget Development of: * Propellant masses * Structural masses * Feed system masses * Engine masses Deliverables: * Mass budget spreadsheet --- # 20. Failure Mode Analysis Preliminary FMEA covering: * Combustion instability * Turbopump failure * Thermal failure * Structural failure * Feed system failure Deliverables: * Risk assessment report --- # Software Experience Required Please indicate your level of proficiency with: ### Thermochemistry * NASA CEA * RPA (Rocket Propulsion Analysis) ### CAD * SolidWorks * CATIA * Siemens NX ### CFD * ANSYS Fluent * ANSYS CFX * OpenFOAM * STAR-CCM+ ### FEA * ANSYS Mechanical * Abaqus * Nastran ### System Simulation * EcosimPro * MATLAB * Simulink ### Programming * MATLAB * Python --- # Deliverables Expected The final project should ideally include: ### Documentation * Full engineering report * Design report * Trade studies * Validation reports ### Engineering Calculations * Rocket performance calculations * Feed system calculations * Thermal calculations * Structural calculations ### CAD * Complete CAD package ### CFD * CFD package * Results * Reports ### FEA * Structural package * Reports ### Simulation * EcosimPro model * MATLAB models ### Management Documents * Statement of Work (SOW) * Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) * Deliverables Matrix * Acceptance Criteria --- # Questions for the Consultant 1. What is your educational background? 2. Have you worked on rocket propulsion projects before? 3. Have you designed liquid rocket engines? 4. Which propulsion cycles have you worked with? 5. Which of the listed software tools can you use professionally? 6. Can you perform NASA CEA analysis? 7. Can you perform CFD of combustion chambers and nozzles? 8. Can you perform FEA under thermal and pressure loads? 9. Can you develop EcosimPro propulsion models? 10. Can you create complete CAD assemblies? 11. Which portions of the project can you personally complete and which would require subcontracting? 12. Could you provide examples of similar propulsion, aerospace, turbomachinery, CFD, or thermal-fluid projects you have completed? 13. What deliverables would you realistically be able to provide? 14. What timeline would you estimate for completion? 15. What budget range would you estimate for a project of this scope? Please be candid regarding your experience level, software capabilities, and the portions of the project you would feel comfortable delivering to a professional engineering standard. This will help determine whether there is a good fit for collaboration.