|
|
 |
|
Contact mechanics
Computer hard disks are provided with a touch-down area on which the read head comes to rest when the
computer is switched off. Problems in starting-up sometimes occur ('stiction'), probably because of water
vapour condensing round the asperity contacts. To avoid this, the touch-down area is sometimes textured by
firing a laser at it to produce a regular array of asperities, which may resemble a volcano, with a central
crater surrounded by a circular rim, colloquially referred to as a 'donut'. The load/compliance relation for
contact at such an asperity is not the usual hertzian law!
Relevant/recent publications
- Greenwood, J. A. 'Elastic Contact with a 'donut'-shaped asperity'. International Journal of Mechanical
Sciences, (to appear).
Contact Details
For further information on the work summarised above contact Dr J A Greenwood at Cambridge University
Engineering Department, Trumpington St, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, UK. Tel: 01223 332733, Fax: 01223 332662. E-mail:
jag@eng.cam.ac.uk
|
|
