Dynamic Characteristics of Gas-Lubricated Slider Bearings Under High Knudsen Number Conditions

Abstract

This paper presents numerical analyses of the dynamic characteristics of gas-lubricated slider bearings under high Knudsen number conditions using a generalized lubrication equation based on the the Boltzmann equation. These analyses are compared with those of the slip flow approximation equations and the differences are clarified. The present analysis is applied to the dynamic response of flying head sliders for magnetic disk storage devices. For a small slider with ultra-thin spacing, the deviations of the slip flow approximation equations are remarkable in regard to steady flying characteristics, but insignificant in regard to dynamic characteristics.