Abstract: A rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine may be spoked and includes a rotor and a shell. The rotor has a rotor disk and a plurality of blades each having a platform attached to the rotor disk and with a first channel defined radially between the platforms and the rotor disk. The shell projects aft of the rotor and includes inner and outer walls with a passage defined therebetween. The passage is in fluid communication with the first channel and, together, form part of a secondary flowpath for cooling of adjacent components. The rotor assembly may further include a structure located radially inward of the rotor disk and shell. The structure defines a supply conduit for flowing air from the passage and into a rotor bore defined at least in part by adjacent rotor disks. The entering air, being pre-heated when flowing through the channel and passage, warms the bore and reduces thermal gradients, thus thermal fatigue, across the rotor disk.

Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine engine includes a cold shell, a hot shell, and a spoke. The spoke is connected to and extends radially outward from the cold shell. The hot shell is connected to the cold shell by the spoke and includes an axially extending outboard segment and an axially extending inboard segment. The outboard segment is connected to the inboard segment and the inboard segment is disposed radially inboard of the outboard segment for sealably engaging a stator blade shroud.

Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a rotor disk rotatable about an axis and a gas path wall coupled to and radially outward of the rotor disk. The gas path wall bounds a radially inward portion of a gas path. A plurality of rotor spokes are radially intermediate the rotor disk and the gas path wall. The plurality of rotor spokes is circumferentially spaced to define a plurality of cooling channels intermediate the rotor disk and the gas path wall. A thermal barrier coating is disposed on a surface of at least one of the plurality of cooling channels. A method of cooling a rotor assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A flow-management system may comprise a center body impermeable to air. A conical surface of the center body may face forward. A blocking surface of the center body may be coaxial with the conical surface and may comprise an annular recess. An annular ring may be aft of the center body and fluidly coupled with the blocking surface. A tube may encase the center body and annular ring. The annular ring may comprise an air-foil shape to direct a pulse to the blocking surface. The blocking surface may comprise a central peak and a circular ridge separated by the annular recess.

Abstract: A blade for a gas turbine engine includes a body that includes an airfoil that extends in a radial direction from a 0% span position near an airfoil base to a 100% span position at an airfoil tip. The airfoil includes a first portion near the airfoil base with a first density and includes a second portion near the airfoil tip with a second density. The second density is less than the first density. The second portion includes an increasing true chord length in the radial direction.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a turbine engine component includes the steps of: providing a powder containing gamma titanium aluminide; and forming a turbine engine component from said powder using a direct metal laser sintering technique.

Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of blades which extend from a rotor disk, adjacent ones of the plurality of blades are joined by a flexible web.

Abstract: A seal segment according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first axial wall, a second axial wall radially spaced from the first axial wall and a radially outer wall that interconnects the first axial wall and the second axial wall. At least one curved member is radially inwardly offset from the radially outer wall and extending between the first and second axial walls.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for distributing cooling air in gas turbine engines. A tangential on board injector (“TOBI”) may supply cooling air to a turbine section of a gas turbine engine. The cooling air may be split into a first cooling air path and a second cooling air path. The first cooling air path may fluidly connect the TOBI and the interior of a first stage rotor blade. The second cooling air path may fluidly connect the TOBI and a cavity. The cavity may be located between a first disk and a second disk. The cooling air paths from a single cooling air source may thermally isolate portions of the turbine section.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section having a plurality of compressor stages, a combustor fluidly connected to the compressor section, a turbine section fluidly connected to the combustor section, the turbine section having at least one stage, a compressor bleed structure disposed in one of the plurality of compressor stages and operable to remove air from the compressor stage, a heat exchanger having an input connected to the compressor bleed, and an output connected to an active cooling system of at least one turbine stage, and wherein the compressor stage in which the compressor bleed structure is disposed includes airflow at a pressure above a minimum pressure threshold, and wherein the airflow has a temperature above a maximum temperature threshold.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine section fluidly connected to a combustor by a primary flow path. The turbine section includes a first portion at a high pressure relative to a second portion. A thermally isolated cooling plenum is positioned radially inward of the primary flow path. The cooling plenum is defined by a forward wall, a shaft structure, an aft wall, and an inner diameter wall of the primary flow path. Air in the thermally isolated cooling plenum is thermally isolated from air in the primary flow path. At least one cooling air system is operable to provide cooling air to the thermally isolated cooling plenum.

Abstract: A planet carrier assembly is provided. The planet carrier assembly includes a housing having a plurality of holes provided therein. The planet carrier assembly includes a pin positioned within each of the plurality of holes. Each pin is configured to rotatably support a gear. The pin includes a retention groove provided at an end of the pin and least partially on a circumference thereof. The pin includes an orientation surface adjacent to and cooperating with the retention groove. The planet carrier assembly includes a plate having a plurality of slots provided thereon. Each of the plurality of slots is configured to engage with the respective pin. The plate is configured to angularly orient the pin within each of the plurality of holes in the housing during an assembly and to lock the pin within each of the plurality of holes in the housing after the assembly.

Abstract: A cooling system for gas turbine engines includes a turbine rotor compartment defining a cooling air plenum. A plurality of turbine discs are rotatably housed within the rotor compartment. A cooling air inlet is in fluid communication with the plenum. Each turbine disc includes a cooling outlet in fluid communication with the plenum for cooling the rotor compartment.

Abstract: A seal segment for a gas turbine engine includes a first axial span that extends between the first radial span and the second radial span. A second axial span extends between the first radial span and the second radial span, the first radial span, the second radial span, the first axial span and the second axial span forming a torque box.

Abstract: A turbine injection system for a gas turbine engine includes a first end operable to receive air from a heat exchanger, a second end operable to distribute mixed cooling air to a turbine stage, an opening downstream of said first end and a mixing plenum downstream of said first end and said opening. The opening provides a direct fluid pathway into said turbine injection system.

Abstract: A turbine cooling air generation system for a gas turbine engine includes a first fluid pathway connecting a compressor bleed outlet and a mixing valve, a second fluid pathway connecting the compressor bleed outlet and an input of a heat exchanger, and a third fluid pathway connecting an output of the heat exchanger and the mixing valve. The mixing valve is further connected to an input of a turbine stage active cooling system.

Abstract: A cooling system for providing a buffer cooled cooling air to a turbine section of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The cooling system may comprise a first conduit configured to transmit a cooling air toward the turbine section, a heat exchanger configured to cool a bleed airflow diverted from the first conduit to provide a buffer air, and a bypass conduit configured to direct at least a portion of the buffer air through at least one passageway that bypasses a bearing compartment of the gas turbine engine. The cooling system may further comprise a manifold configured to allow the cooling air exiting the first conduit and the buffer air exiting the bypass conduit to mix and provide the buffer cooled cooling air, and a nozzle assembly configured to deliver the buffer cooled cooling air to the turbine section.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a propulsion unit and a gas generating core. The propulsion unit includes a fan and a free turbine, wherein the free turbine is connected to drive the fan about a first axis. The gas generating core includes a compressor, a combustion section, and a gas generating core turbine. The compressor and the gas generating core turbine are configured to rotate about a second axis. An inlet duct is configured to deliver air from the fan to the gas generating core. The inlet duct has a crescent shaped cross-section near the fan.

Abstract: An engine includes an elongated pulse detonation combustor tube having an arcuate combustion path over a majority of an entire length of the combustor tube, and an elongated portion of the combustor tube being oriented transverse to a central axis of the engine.

Abstract: A lens-based switched beam antenna system including a beam-forming lens, and a beam port router coupled to the beam-forming lens, including a plurality of beam ports, and configured to transmit beams via corresponding ones of the beam ports, wherein a first group of the beam ports corresponds to a first signal, and wherein a second group of the beam ports corresponds to a second signal.