The posture effects of a slider air bearing on its performance with a direct simulation Monte Carlo method

Abstract

The direct simulation Monte Carlo method is used to study the gas slider bearing problem in a magnetic recording storage system. The flow field of a micro-channel between an inclined slider and a rotating disk is calculated under a variety of slider postures and radial positions relative to the spinning disk. The effects of the windward angle of the flying slider and the lower plate velocity of the channel on two-dimensional pressure distributions and velocity profiles are presented. The relationship of load capacity and the windward angle, and the position of the resultant force of the loading capacity, are also obtained, which can be used to optimize the design of a floating head mechanism that is composed of the slider bearing and its suspension system. The slip velocities and the shear stress are further investigated in order to determine the near-wall feature of micro-channel flow in the transition regime.