The GTF (Geared TurboFan) engine represents one of the most promising architectural innovations in the aeronautical market, meeting requirements of constant improvement in engine performance in terms of fuel consumption, noise and gas emission.

The concept which this engine architecture is based on involves the mechanical uncoupling of the turbine shaft from the fan section, by means of introduction of an epicyclic Power GearBox, named Integral Drive System (IDS). This solution, by adding a further degree of freedom to the system, allows the separate optimization of both power turbine and fan in terms of rotational speed, with overall enhancement of the whole engine performance.

As a result, the IDS represents a new engine core module.

The GTFTR project, in line with the objectives defined by the Topic Manager (TM) in the call for proposal (CfP), aimed at performing a demonstration on a purposely developed full scale power test rig of the technologies matured by the TM within the Clean Sky frame.

The approach proposed by the Topic is innovative since it opens the collaboration on the experimental validation phase, which is generally retained by the system design responsible, with the Applicant.

The Applicant is a Consortium of three partners: University of Pisa (Coordinator), AM Testing srl and Catarsi Ing. Piero & c. srl.