Why did Boeing remove the engine chevrons on the 777-X?
The 777X is still in development and it will be powered by the General Electric GE9X (also still in development). The current talk is that GE is working on a proprietary method (has been for 20 years) that will make the chevrons obsolete. Namely the use of an oxide-oxide ceramic matrix composite, which they have unveiled already (October 2013) for the smaller Passport 20 engine.

It's a new material that can withstand very high temperatures, make the elaborate cooling methods a thing of the past, and bring back the mixer seen on old jets (since it can withstand the hotter exhaust of the new engines).

(compositesworld.com)


  The oxide-oxide CMC material replaces what would have been graphite-epoxy components in the Passport 20 – namely, the four-piece panel enclosing the engine core and a nine-piece component called a mixer, says Judd Tressler, director of Bombardier programmes for GE.


Mixing produces a more uniform less turbulent stream, turbulent stream is a lost thrust. Mixer aside, using the CMC in the turbine and combustor will save on wasted bleed air and provide better combustion respectively, both save on fuel (noise) for same thrust. With the noise level brought down, there is no need for the drag-adding chevrons.


  Likewise, GE is also looking to expand the use of oxide-oxide CMCs to other commercial turbofan engines – possibly including the GE9X, in similar regions of the engine as the Passport.