Vibration modeling of magnetic tape with vibro-impact of tape–guide contact

Next-generation, high track-density linear tape drives will require improved tape guiding and dimensional stability in order to achieve better performance and higher storage capacities. Drive vibrations, tape degradation, debris formation, and tape guiding all contribute to unwanted lateral tape motion (LTM), which can lead to track-misregistration errors during reading of the tape. Understanding the nature of LTM is of prime interest. A nonlinear vibration model of a tape–guide system with vibro-impact is presented in this study. The guides are modeled as rigid constraints, while the reels are modeled as clamped ends. Free vibration (due to initial velocity) and forced vibration (due to moving boundaries) were performed for various test cases to determine the effect of tape tension and thickness, tape–guide separation distance, reel tilt amplitude, and tape speed. The model results are compared to actual experimental LTM data, though with the absence of tape damping and tape–guide frictional forces in the model, only limited comparisons may be made.