Development and application of a predesign tool for aero engine power gearboxes

While gearboxes are enablers for new engine concepts, they introduce additional complexity in aero engine design. The additional weight of power gearboxes competes with potential weight savings in the turbine, while the size of the gearbox poses challenges for the integration in the engine. It is important to balance these effects at an early stage of development. Therefore, a predesign methodology is required to estimate the gearbox mass and size. In this paper the development, validation and application of a predesign tool for power gearboxes named GtGearbox is presented. First, the methodology used in this tool is presented. The results are validated and compared with internal as well as published gearbox data. The validation results are evaluated and discussed. GtGearbox is then integrated in MTU’s predesign tool MOPEDS. One main application of MOPEDS is the investigation of different propulsion systems on a conceptual design level. How GtGearbox improves typical MOPEDS parameter studies will also be shown.