Design of low flying heads for floppy disk magnetic recording

Detailed calculations are presented for a realistic noncontact floppy disk/head interface. The numerical procedure is based on a factored-implicit finite difference algorithm which tracks a simultaneous solution of the air bearing and disk deflection asymptotically to steady-state. Examples are presented for a spherical head with either transverse or longitudinal ambient pressure slots. The slot is observed to draw off a portion of the air bearing flow rate and cause a reduction in flying height.