Flow-Induced Vibration Reduction for Hard Disk Drive with a Window Spoiler

Abstract

As the track density of hard disk drives is increased, ways to suppress flow-induced vibration such as vibration of the disk and arm, are needed. For practical application, such countermeasures should not increase power consumption. We have developed a “window spoiler” with wings, each having a large hole and the same outer dimensions as an original spoiler. In experiments, the window and metamorphosed two-parallel-beam spoilers more effectively decreased the average downstream flow velocity than the original spoiler without holes thereby reducing the disk flutter by 8-10 %. This effect was due to increased drag occurring when there was sufficient distance between the two beams in a tandem arrangement.

Keywords

• flow induced vibration
• hard disk drive
• spoiler
• particle image velocimetry