On Taylor vortices and Ekman layers in flow-induced vibration of hard disk drives

This paper is about flow-induced vibration (FIV) of disks in hard disk drives (HDD) influenced by two classical flow structures in fluid dynamics, Taylor Couette vortices (TCV) and Ekman layers. FIV is computed with a fully coupled commercial aerodynamics/structural code. The emphasis is on FIV of disks and geometries under conditions typical for high speed, server HDDs. In typical server drives computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis predicts the occurrence of TCVs in the disk to shroud clearance. TCVs typically do not occur in mobile and desktop drives. The main controlling non-dimensional parameters are the Reynolds number, the Taylor number and the aspect ratio of the disk to shroud clearance. The existence of Ekman layers on the disk surfaces is persistent. The Ekman layers and their radial return flow interact in a complex manner with the flow in the disk to shroud clearance. The turbulent viscosity between shrouded disks results from “bursting” phenomena that are typical for the flow field near the disk rims and shroud. The details of a turbulent burst are presented together with its momentary disk excitation effect. The benchmark case used is a fully shrouded set of two disks with a disk to shroud clearance and a disk thickness to shroud aspect ratio such that TCVs occur in the disk to shroud clearance. The TCVs interact with the Ekman layers such that the outer TCVs are continuously destroyed and recreated. An example is presented of fully coupled FIV of a two-disk axi-symmetric benchmark case. The two co-rotating shrouded disks attract aerodynamically: they deflect statically inward. The results also show the dynamic disk deformation dominated by the disk (0,0) “umbrella” mode. In addition, there is random disk deflection caused by the turbulent bursting. At server drive conditions and a 70 mm diameter disk the peak to peak deflection is approximately 20% of the mean deflection. Three dimensional effects are also presented such as wavy TCVs. In another benchmark with a cavity the flow near unshrouded disk edges is shown. In that case the pressure fluctuations can be an order of magnitude greater than in shrouded regions.