Static Characteristics of Finite Width Tapered Flat Slider Bearings According to Rarefied Gas Lubrication Theory : Influence of Dimension Error

Abstract

The static characteristics of finite width tapered flat slider bearings in a rarefied gas region were investigated. The linearized Boltzmann equation was solved by the numerical method of iteration and a pressure equation was obtained, coupled with a continuous equation. The finite element method was developed for solving the pressure equation. It was found that the two-moments approximation showed a 10 % larger load than the present solution, for inverse Knudsen number a=1.7. This means that the present solution is superior to the two-moments approximation when a=1.7. The dimensional error influence on super-low-spacing-slider flying performance was also discussed.