Abstract
Two methods for investigating the flow inside an actual hard disk drive (HDD), namely, Particle-image-velocimetry (PIV) measurements and fluid simulation using tetrahedral elements have been developed. The HDDs used in the measurement have the same configurations as those of an actual product, but they are partly made of transparent acrylic resin. The measured velocity distribution clearly shows the flow characteristics induced by the arm or the base configuration. The fluid simulation considers most of an actual configuration between the two co-rotating disks. The simulated velocity distributions at the mid-plane between the disks agree well with those measured by the PIV. The developed PIV measurement technique and fluid simulation using tetrahedral elements more effectively determine the flow characteristics inside a HDD.
