Analysis of a Hydrodynamic Bearing of a HDD Spindle Motor at Elevated Temperature

Abstract

This paper presents a method to investigate the characteristics of hydrodynamic bearings of a HDD spindle motor considering the variation of the clearance as well as the lubricant viscosity due to elevated temperature. Iterative finite element analysis of heat conduction and thermal deformation is performed to determine the viscosity and clearance of hydrodynamic bearings at elevated temperature until the temperature in the bearing area converges. The proposed method is verified by comparing the calculated temperature with the measured one at elevated surrounding temperature as well as in room temperature. This research shows that elevated temperature changes the clearance as well as the lubricant viscosity of the hydrodynamic bearings of a HDD spindle motor. Once the viscosity and clearance of hydrodynamic bearings of a HDD spindle motor are determined, finite element analysis of the Reynolds equation is performed to investigate the static and dynamic characteristics of hydrodynamic bearings of a HDD spindle motor at elevated temperature. It also shows that the variation of clearance due to elevated temperature is another important design consideration which affects the static and dynamic characteristics of the hydrodynamic bearings of a HDD spindle motor.