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

The direct simulation Monte Carlo method is used to study the gas slider be aring problem in a magnetic recording storage system. The flow field of a m icro-channel between an inclined slider and a rotating disk is calculated u nder a variety of slider postures and radial positions relative to the spin ning disk. The effects of the windward angle of the flying slider and the l ower plate velocity of the channel on two-dimensional pressure distribution s and velocity profiles are presented. The relationship of load capacity an d the windward angle, and the position of the resultant force of the loadin g 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 su spension system. The slip velocities and the shear stress are further inves tigated in order to determine the near-wall feature of micro-channel flow i n the transition regime.