Accelerating the Pace
The establishment of our Atlanta site was driven by a desire to not only build innovative, life-saving technologies for our military, but to also accelerate the pace of getting those technologies into the warfighter’s hands.
Our primary area of expertise is a robust blend of computational and experimental physics, allowing us the unique, end-to-end ability to perform experimental physics supported by system-level modeling and computational physics modeling. Our work includes solid mechanic simulations, fluid mechanic simulations, and energetic and reactive materials.
We are a group that works hard, approaches problems creatively, and is highly motivated by our shared purpose.
Integrated Solutions
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High Strain Rate Solid Mechanics
Multi-Phase, Reactive Flows
Penetration / Impact Mechanics
Blast Simulations
Fluid Dynamics
Life Cycle & Fatigue
Structural Integrity for Flight Certification
Warhead Survivability
Fragmentation & Lethality
Physics-Based Modeling & Simulation
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Energetics Research
Explosives
Reactive Materials
Equation of State Development & Diagnostics
Experimental Physics
Materials & Systems Development & Performance Characterization
Thermites & Intermetallics
Energetic Material Test Diagnostics
Blast / Fragment Performance Testing
Detonation Physics & Performance Testing
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Physics-Based Simulation Software
Embedded Software
Flight Control Software
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Additive Manufacturing (AM) for Warhead Design
AM-Enabled Design
Rapid Prototyping
AM Material Characterization
AM Part Simulation
AM-Enabled Geometry for Structural Integrity
High Strain Rate AM Applications
AM-Enabled Reactive Materials
High-Strength AM Metals
Iterative Digital Fabrication & Evaluation
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Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
Dynamic System Simulations
Digital Engineering (DE)
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Weapons Open Systems Architecture (WOSA)
Weapons Open Communications Architecture (WOCA)
Weapons Government Reference Architecture (GRA)
Our Work
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Structural Integrity & Fluid Dynamics
With a suite of high-end computing resources, IS4S is a go-to provider for structural integrity assessments of DoD weapons and components.
Intimately familiar with MIL-STD airworthiness and SEEK Eagle requirements, our team has provided the critical engineering and computational physics capabilities to verify structural integrity sufficiency of multiple weapons and DoD components prior to flight.
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Explosive Performance Characterization
In support of DoD customers, IS4S provides state-of-the-art capabilities for characterizing advanced explosives and associated damage mechanisms. Our team designs and conducts tests in reinforced test chambers and open arenas, and we routinely field shock pressure gauges, flash panels, fiberboard bundles, witness plates, high-speed cameras, and more. Our analysis provides key metrics such as blast field pressure, fireball temperature, and fragment distribution/penetration.
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Additive Manufacturing (AM)
IS4S is leading design, fabrication, delivery, and performance testing of first-of-its-kind full-scale AM munitions that provide double the performance. These AM weapons were iteratively designed and simulated by IS4S using well-characterized high-strength AM metals. Our unique combination of warhead design domain knowledge, digital engineering simulation capabilities, and application of cutting-edge AM technologies is leading to significant increases in munition capability.
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Model-Based Systems Engineering
Given mission parameters (range, cruise speed, cruise altitude, etc.) and initial estimates of aerodynamic properties, the system model iterates to optimize the design.
Each block contains an underlying analytical model of the components’ performance characteristics. Examples include wing loading, thrust to weight ratio, required power and energy, and design geometry.
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Kill Chain Analysis
We have a modeling and simulation (M&S) effort to assess elements of the long range kill chain. We use Cameo as a user interface, Advanced Framework for Simulation, Integration, and Modeling (AFSIM) as a visualization tool, and plug-ins to connect Cameo and AFSIM or any other visualization tool.
These tools, used correctly, will inform the Department of Defense's acquisition arm as well as the warfighter on strengths, gaps, and shortfalls of capability development.
Atlanta Leadership
Lindsey Thornhill, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President
Clay Trammell
Associate Vice President
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Clay Trammell has two decades of experience developing munitions for the U.S. Department of Defense, with a focus on design and analysis to support weapon flight qualification. He leads the computational physics modeling and simulation group at IS4S, with capabilities including finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), penetration mechanics, and blast physics.
Clay is well-versed in design criteria for airborne stores and the aircraft-store interface, and has led engineering efforts to assess the structural integrity of a number of new Air Force weapons. Each of those efforts resulted in Air Force SEEK Eagle Office flight clearance and certification recommendations and successful flight testing. He also has expertise in integrating additive manufacturing-enabled technologies into existing traditionally manufactured weapons for enhanced performance and improved reliability.
Clay earned his Bachelor and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has co-authored over 20 published papers and has been invited to present his work at several conferences.
John Rogers, Ph.D.
Senior Technical Fellow
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Dr. John Rogers is a senior technical fellow and chief scientist at our Atlanta site. Since joining IS4S in 2015, he has primarily focused on the development and testing of novel explosives and reactive energetic materials to obtain enhanced blast effects in advanced warheads.
While a student at Auburn University, John began working with the U.S. Air Force as an AFRL graduate fellow. During that time, he conducted research and developed specialized diagnostics for a hypervelocity electromagnetic propulsion system (rail gun). Following graduate school, John joined SAIC where he worked on several different weapon systems and technologies including shock-induced combustion (ramjet engine), intelligent munitions (AP munition alternatives), counter-WMD warhead development, and new energetic materials for enhanced blast. The customers for these weapon systems included AFRL, DTRA, Army, Air Force, and DARPA.
John earned his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and Ph.D. in Physics at Auburn University. His contributions have helped R&D programs earn honors including the Wright Laboratory Scientific Achievement Award and a nomination for DARPA’s Sustained Performance Award. He has authored more than 20 government technical reports and holds two patents.
Van Le
Senior Technical Fellow
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Van Le, M.S., has been at IS4S for the past 10 years as a research engineer, specializing in blast modeling and simulations, computational analysis models, and target structural damage models. Van’s background is in civil engineering and computer science, and he has served as technical manager for various research projects funded by AFRL, ARL, and NRL.
Prior to joining IS4S, Van worked as a senior principal engineer at SAIC, where he held various positions as project team lead. He worked in many technical fields including software development in embedded systems using open-source technologies with micro kernels.
Van is recognized as a senior technical fellow and currently works at the Atlanta office.
Atlanta Careers
Join us in our mission to solve complex problems of national importance in an environment where doing the right thing is more important than profit, and in a company fully owned and operated by ethical, motivated employees.
Check out our active job openings to apply!
Contact Us
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Atlanta Site Address
2400 Herodian Way SE
Suite 380
Smyrna, GA 30080
CAGE: 7E7D4