Dynamic simulation of the zero-load slider bearing

The "Zero-Load" slider bearing, composed of narrow taper-flat rails and a wide reverse step center recess, appears to possess superior hydrodynamic characteristics for housing magnetic transducers in a high performance disk file. A low net load enables the slider to be started and stopped in contact with the magnetic media while the high bearing stiffness allows the slider to fly at a nearly uniform clearance over the recording surface. In addition, the load/clearance relationship for the bearing makes a self-loading capability appear feasible. This paper presents full nonlinear dynamic simulation results of the Zero-Load slider, which consist of numerically tracking the simultaneous solution of the compressible form of the Reynolds lubrication equation with the dynamics equations describing the disk motion. Numerical results are presented for a Zero-Load slider with the same overall dimensions as those of a currently manufactured high performance magnetic head. Response to severe dynamic input, such as 25 khz disk flutter is studied as well as the slider's ability to negotiate impulse loading without contact. Last, results are presented for the case where the slider is released from 127 μ above the disk and self-loaded to a final clearance of 0.23 μ No intermittent contact is predicted.