Roughness-Induced Shear- and Squeeze-Film Effects in Magnetic Recording—Part I: Analysis

Abstract

General analyses are developed to predict the role of surface roughness, rarefaction effects, and various operating parameters in thin-film gas lubrication. Both shear- and squeeze-film effects are considered. The squeeze-film analysis is developed for transient and periodic motions. The analyses are based on average flow (roughness) factors. The results are presented in terms of Knudsen number, h/σ (film thickness/standard deviations of composite roughness) and roughness-orientation parameters. The appropriate analyses presented in this paper are simple and can be applied to magnetic recording and other applications to provide design guidelines.