A Finite Element Technique for Tape-Head Interaction Problems in High-Speed Recording: The Steady-State Case

This paper presents a finite element technique to model the steady-state response of a flexible tape during high-speed recording. The tape is modeled as a flexible plate, including geometric nonlinearities due to large deflections. The air-film pressure field is described by using a modified version of the Reynolds equation for compressible fluids. A new nonlinear finite element that couples both air-film and tape mechanics is described in detail. This element, which has been incorporated into a standard finite element code (MSC/NASTRAN®), allows one to determine the pressure field and the air-film thickness due to tape-head interaction. An example demonstrates the usefulness of this technique.