Dynamic characteristics of a coupled journal and thrust hydrodynamic bearing in a HDD spindle system due to its groove location

 This research numerically analyzes the dynamic characteristics of a coupled journal and thrust hydrodynamic bearing due to its groove location which has the static load due to the weight of a rotor in the axial direction and the dynamic load due to its mass unbalance in the radial direction. The Reynolds equation is transformed to solve a plain member rotating type of journal bearing (PMRJ), a grooved member rotating type of journal bearing (GMRJ), a plain member rotating type of thrust bearing (PMRT), and a grooved member rotating type of thrust bearing (GMRT). FEM is used to solve the Reynolds equations in order to calculate the pressure distribution in a fluid film. Reaction forces and friction torque are obtained by integrating the pressure and shear stress along the fluid film, respectively. Dynamic behaviors, such as whirl radius or axial displacement of a rotor, are determined by solving its nonlinear equations of motion with the Runge–Kutta method. This research shows that the groove location affects the pressure distribution in the fluid film and consequently the dynamic performance of a HDD spindle system. Received: 5 July 2001/Accepted: 17 October 2001